diff --git a/client/package.json b/client/package.json
index 811883ec2f7..6c88149ebd3 100644
--- a/client/package.json
+++ b/client/package.json
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
   ],
   "license": "MIT",
   "scripts": {
-    "build": "gatsby build",
+    "build": "node ../config/ensure-env.js && gatsby build",
     "develop": "gatsby develop",
     "format": "prettier --write '**/*.js'",
     "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1"
diff --git a/config/ensure-env.js b/config/ensure-env.js
index c1553df6e71..f7d94e9b98a 100644
--- a/config/ensure-env.js
+++ b/config/ensure-env.js
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 require('dotenv').config();
 
 const fs = require('fs-extra');
+const path = require('path');
 
 const env = require('./env');
 
-fs.access('./api-server/server/rev-manifest.json', function(err) {
+const apiPath = path.resolve(__dirname, '../api-server');
+const clientPath = path.resolve(__dirname, '../client');
+
+fs.access(`${apiPath}/server/rev-manifest.json`, function(err) {
   if (err) {
     console.log('\n\ncreating manifest\n\n');
     return fs.writeFileSync('./api-server/server/rev-manifest.json', '{}');
@@ -13,7 +17,7 @@ fs.access('./api-server/server/rev-manifest.json', function(err) {
   return null;
 });
 
-fs.access('./api-server/server/resources/pathMigration.json', err => {
+fs.access(`${apiPath}/server/resources/pathMigration.json`, err => {
   if (err) {
     console.log('\n\ncreating pathMigration\n\n');
     return fs.writeFileSync(
@@ -25,6 +29,6 @@ fs.access('./api-server/server/resources/pathMigration.json', err => {
   return null;
 });
 
-fs.ensureDir('./client/config/').then(() =>
-  fs.writeFileSync('./client/config/env.json', JSON.stringify(env))
+fs.ensureDir(`${clientPath}/config/`).then(() =>
+  fs.writeFileSync(`${clientPath}/config/env.json`, JSON.stringify(env))
 );