diff --git a/scripts/jenkins.sh b/scripts/jenkins.sh
index 63c42fcd26..866b14d6ed 100755
--- a/scripts/jenkins.sh
+++ b/scripts/jenkins.sh
@@ -8,14 +8,16 @@ nvm use 10
 
 set -x
 
+npm install
+
 # check out corresponding branches of dependencies.
 #
 # clone the deps with depth 1: we know we will only ever need that one
 # commit.
+# We need to do this after npm install otherwise modern node versions
+# just reset it back.
 `dirname $0`/fetch-develop.deps.sh --depth 1
 
-npm install
-
 # apparently npm 3.10.3 on node 6.4.0 doesn't upgrade #develop target with npm install unless explicitly asked.
 npm install olm