diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7742e54283..12f00a17c3 100755
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ Kitematic's documentation and other information can be found at [http://kitemati
 
 ### Development
 
+Kitematic uses a special version of node npm (found under `script/npm`) so packages are built against the same v8 headers as atom-shell. To run the app in development:
+
+- `./script/npm install`
 - `./script/run.sh`
 
 ### Building the Mac OS X Package