diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 809d702a22..55136ddd3e 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@
     "app-package": "npm run package --prefix packages/insomnia-app",
     "app-release": "npm run release --prefix packages/insomnia-app",
     "storybook-start": "npm run storybook --prefix packages/insomnia-components",
-    "storybook-legacy-start": "npm run storybook --prefix packages/insomnia-app"
+    "storybook-legacy-start": "npm run storybook --prefix packages/insomnia-app",
+    "preinstall": "node ./scripts/check-version.js"
   },
   "lint-staged": {
     "{packages,plugins}/**/*.{js,json}": [
diff --git a/scripts/check-version.js b/scripts/check-version.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e8fb0a41d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/check-version.js
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+const fs = require('fs');
+
+const foundNodeVersion = process.versions.node;
+const expectedNodeVersion = fs
+  .readFileSync('.nvmrc')
+  .toString()
+  .trim();
+
+if (foundNodeVersion !== expectedNodeVersion) {
+  console.log(`Current node version: ${foundNodeVersion}`);
+  console.log(`Expected node version: ${expectedNodeVersion}`);
+  console.log(
+    `Remember to 'npm run clean && npm run bootstrap' after installing the expected version.`,
+  );
+  console.log();
+  process.exit(1);
+}