diff --git a/.changeset/flat-bees-approve.md b/.changeset/flat-bees-approve.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..974701b8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/flat-bees-approve.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"blitz": patch
+---
+
+set default enviornment variable to development unless build and start command
diff --git a/.changeset/pre.json b/.changeset/pre.json
index 0a2679c0c..698f36bba 100644
--- a/.changeset/pre.json
+++ b/.changeset/pre.json
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
   "changesets": [
     "breezy-cameras-double",
     "dirty-monkeys-greet",
+    "flat-bees-approve",
     "great-months-train",
     "lovely-colts-share",
     "nine-onions-admire",
diff --git a/apps/toolkit-app/CHANGELOG.md b/apps/toolkit-app/CHANGELOG.md
index 5f9059514..0b9dd989c 100644
--- a/apps/toolkit-app/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/apps/toolkit-app/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,16 @@
 # toolkit-app
 
+## 1.0.1-alpha.9
+
+### Patch Changes
+
+- Updated dependencies
+  - blitz@2.0.0-alpha.14
+  - @blitzjs/auth@2.0.0-alpha.14
+  - @blitzjs/next@2.0.0-alpha.14
+  - @blitzjs/rpc@2.0.0-alpha.14
+  - @blitzjs/config@2.0.0-alpha.14
+
 ## 1.0.1-alpha.8
 
 ### Patch Changes
diff --git a/apps/toolkit-app/package.json b/apps/toolkit-app/package.json
index 48323ceb9..a4a0bdb51 100644
--- a/apps/toolkit-app/package.json
+++ b/apps/toolkit-app/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "toolkit-app",
-  "version": "1.0.1-alpha.8",
+  "version": "1.0.1-alpha.9",
   "scripts": {
     "start:dev": "pnpm run prisma:start && next dev",
     "buildapp": "prisma generate && next build",
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
     "@blitzjs/rpc": "workspace:*",
     "@hookform/resolvers": "2.8.8",
     "@prisma/client": "3.9.0",
-    "blitz": "workspace:2.0.0-alpha.13",
+    "blitz": "workspace:2.0.0-alpha.14",
     "next": "12.1.1",
     "prisma": "3.9.0",
     "react": "18.0.0",
diff --git a/packages/blitz-auth/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/blitz-auth/CHANGELOG.md
index 9dbd9f19c..38dd9e80d 100644
--- a/packages/blitz-auth/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/blitz-auth/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # @blitzjs/auth
 
+## 2.0.0-alpha.14
+
+### Patch Changes
+
+- Updated dependencies
+  - blitz@2.0.0-alpha.14
+
 ## 2.0.0-alpha.13
 
 ### Patch Changes
diff --git a/packages/blitz-auth/package.json b/packages/blitz-auth/package.json
index b8b3b9198..9776e328b 100644
--- a/packages/blitz-auth/package.json
+++ b/packages/blitz-auth/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@blitzjs/auth",
-  "version": "2.0.0-alpha.13",
+  "version": "2.0.0-alpha.14",
   "scripts": {
     "build": "unbuild",
     "predev": "wait-on -d 250 ../blitz/dist/index-server.d.ts",
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
     "@types/secure-password": "3.1.1",
     "b64-lite": "1.4.0",
     "bad-behavior": "1.0.1",
-    "blitz": "2.0.0-alpha.13",
+    "blitz": "2.0.0-alpha.14",
     "cookie": "0.4.1",
     "debug": "4.3.3",
     "http": "0.0.1-security",
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
     "url": "0.11.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@blitzjs/config": "workspace:2.0.0-alpha.13",
+    "@blitzjs/config": "workspace:2.0.0-alpha.14",
     "@testing-library/react": "13.0.0",
     "@testing-library/react-hooks": "7.0.2",
     "@types/cookie": "0.4.1",
diff --git a/packages/blitz-next/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/blitz-next/CHANGELOG.md
index e91cd1fe9..e7de57513 100644
--- a/packages/blitz-next/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/blitz-next/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # @blitzjs/next
 
+## 2.0.0-alpha.14
+
+### Patch Changes
+
+- @blitzjs/rpc@2.0.0-alpha.14
+
 ## 2.0.0-alpha.13
 
 ### Patch Changes
diff --git a/packages/blitz-next/package.json b/packages/blitz-next/package.json
index 31125e5d7..ad0331c38 100644
--- a/packages/blitz-next/package.json
+++ b/packages/blitz-next/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@blitzjs/next",
-  "version": "2.0.0-alpha.13",
+  "version": "2.0.0-alpha.14",
   "scripts": {
     "build": "unbuild",
     "dev": "pnpm predev && pnpm watch unbuild src --wait=0.2",
@@ -23,13 +23,13 @@
     "eslint.js"
   ],
   "dependencies": {
-    "@blitzjs/rpc": "2.0.0-alpha.13",
+    "@blitzjs/rpc": "2.0.0-alpha.14",
     "debug": "4.3.3",
     "fs-extra": "10.0.1",
     "react-query": "3.21.1"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@blitzjs/config": "workspace:2.0.0-alpha.13",
+    "@blitzjs/config": "workspace:2.0.0-alpha.14",
     "@testing-library/dom": "8.13.0",
     "@testing-library/jest-dom": "5.16.3",
     "@testing-library/react": "13.0.0",
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
     "@types/react": "17.0.43",
     "@types/react-dom": "17.0.14",
     "@types/testing-library__react-hooks": "4.0.0",
-    "blitz": "2.0.0-alpha.13",
+    "blitz": "2.0.0-alpha.14",
     "cross-spawn": "7.0.3",
     "find-up": "4.1.0",
     "lodash.frompairs": "4.0.1",
diff --git a/packages/blitz-rpc/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/blitz-rpc/CHANGELOG.md
index 657572ca3..94f24bf6c 100644
--- a/packages/blitz-rpc/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/blitz-rpc/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 # @blitzjs/rpc
 
+## 2.0.0-alpha.14
+
+### Patch Changes
+
+- Updated dependencies
+  - blitz@2.0.0-alpha.14
+  - @blitzjs/auth@2.0.0-alpha.14
+
 ## 2.0.0-alpha.13
 
 ### Patch Changes
diff --git a/packages/blitz-rpc/package.json b/packages/blitz-rpc/package.json
index 3ad48c992..e00a6029b 100644
--- a/packages/blitz-rpc/package.json
+++ b/packages/blitz-rpc/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@blitzjs/rpc",
-  "version": "2.0.0-alpha.13",
+  "version": "2.0.0-alpha.14",
   "scripts": {
     "build": "unbuild",
     "predev": "wait-on -d 250 ../blitz/dist/index-server.d.ts && wait-on -d 250 ../blitz-auth/dist/index-browser.d.ts",
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
     "dist/**"
   ],
   "dependencies": {
-    "@blitzjs/auth": "2.0.0-alpha.13",
+    "@blitzjs/auth": "2.0.0-alpha.14",
     "b64-lite": "1.4.0",
     "bad-behavior": "1.0.1",
     "chalk": "^4.1.0",
@@ -30,11 +30,11 @@
     "zod": "3.10.1"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@blitzjs/config": "workspace:2.0.0-alpha.13",
+    "@blitzjs/config": "workspace:2.0.0-alpha.14",
     "@types/debug": "4.1.7",
     "@types/react": "17.0.43",
     "@types/react-dom": "17.0.14",
-    "blitz": "2.0.0-alpha.13",
+    "blitz": "2.0.0-alpha.14",
     "next": "12.1.1",
     "react": "18.0.0",
     "react-dom": "18.0.0",
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
     "watch": "1.0.2"
   },
   "peerDependencies": {
-    "blitz": "2.0.0-alpha.13",
+    "blitz": "2.0.0-alpha.14",
     "next": "*"
   },
   "publishConfig": {
diff --git a/packages/blitz/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/blitz/CHANGELOG.md
index 900b1569b..a0d92f557 100644
--- a/packages/blitz/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/blitz/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # blitz
 
+## 2.0.0-alpha.14
+
+### Patch Changes
+
+- set default enviornment variable to development unless build and start command
+  - @blitzjs/generator@2.0.0-alpha.14
+
 ## 2.0.0-alpha.13
 
 ### Patch Changes
diff --git a/packages/blitz/package.json b/packages/blitz/package.json
index 9381d0c03..3ca56ea67 100644
--- a/packages/blitz/package.json
+++ b/packages/blitz/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "blitz",
-  "version": "2.0.0-alpha.13",
+  "version": "2.0.0-alpha.14",
   "scripts": {
     "build": "unbuild",
     "dev": "watch unbuild src --wait=0.2",
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
     "blitz": "bin/blitz"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "@blitzjs/generator": "2.0.0-alpha.13",
+    "@blitzjs/generator": "2.0.0-alpha.14",
     "arg": "5.0.1",
     "chalk": "^4.1.0",
     "console-table-printer": "2.10.0",
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
     "tslog": "3.3.1"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@blitzjs/config": "workspace:2.0.0-alpha.13",
+    "@blitzjs/config": "workspace:2.0.0-alpha.14",
     "@types/cookie": "0.4.1",
     "@types/cross-spawn": "6.0.2",
     "@types/debug": "4.1.7",
diff --git a/packages/blitz/src/cli/index.ts b/packages/blitz/src/cli/index.ts
index a776ccfc6..bcbb9fcb5 100644
--- a/packages/blitz/src/cli/index.ts
+++ b/packages/blitz/src/cli/index.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ if (args["--help"]) {
   forwardedArgs.push("--help")
 }
 
-const defaultEnv = command === "dev" ? "development" : "production"
+// env variable should default to dev unless the command is build or start
+const defaultEnv = command === "build" || command === "start" ? "production" : "development"
 
 const standardEnv = ["production", "development", "test"]
 if (process.env.NODE_ENV && !standardEnv.includes(process.env.NODE_ENV)) {
diff --git a/packages/config/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/config/CHANGELOG.md
index 99daa0508..7a754d4d2 100644
--- a/packages/config/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/config/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # @blitzjs/config
 
+## 2.0.0-alpha.14
+
 ## 2.0.0-alpha.13
 
 ## 2.0.0-alpha.12
diff --git a/packages/config/package.json b/packages/config/package.json
index a05cff857..bdc73e926 100644
--- a/packages/config/package.json
+++ b/packages/config/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "@blitzjs/config",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "2.0.0-alpha.13",
+  "version": "2.0.0-alpha.14",
   "license": "MIT",
   "dependencies": {
     "@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": "5.9.1",
diff --git a/packages/generator/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/generator/CHANGELOG.md
index 5c7a791dc..3cee5a00f 100644
--- a/packages/generator/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/generator/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # @blitzjs/generator
 
+## 2.0.0-alpha.14
+
 ## 2.0.0-alpha.13
 
 ### Patch Changes
diff --git a/packages/generator/package.json b/packages/generator/package.json
index 6dd0db974..79de52845 100644
--- a/packages/generator/package.json
+++ b/packages/generator/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@blitzjs/generator",
-  "version": "2.0.0-alpha.13",
+  "version": "2.0.0-alpha.14",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "watch unbuild src --wait=0.2",
     "build": "unbuild && pnpm build:templates",
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
     "vinyl": "2.2.1"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@blitzjs/config": "2.0.0-alpha.13",
+    "@blitzjs/config": "2.0.0-alpha.14",
     "@juanm04/cpx": "2.0.1",
     "@types/babel__core": "7.1.19",
     "@types/diff": "5.0.2",
diff --git a/packages/pkg-template/package.json b/packages/pkg-template/package.json
index be5cce44b..039960f48 100644
--- a/packages/pkg-template/package.json
+++ b/packages/pkg-template/package.json
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
     "@typescript-eslint/parser": "5.9.1"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@blitzjs/config": "2.0.0-alpha.13",
+    "@blitzjs/config": "2.0.0-alpha.14",
     "@types/react": "17.0.43",
     "@types/react-dom": "17.0.14",
     "react": "18.0.0",
diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index 1697eeafc..2640fb1af 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ importers:
       "@types/node": 17.0.16
       "@types/preview-email": 2.0.1
       "@types/react": 17.0.43
-      blitz: workspace:2.0.0-alpha.12
+      blitz: workspace:2.0.0-alpha.13
       eslint: 7.32.0
       husky: 7.0.4
       jest: 27.5.1
@@ -263,8 +263,8 @@ importers:
 
   packages/blitz:
     specifiers:
-      "@blitzjs/config": workspace:2.0.0-alpha.12
-      "@blitzjs/generator": 2.0.0-alpha.12
+      "@blitzjs/config": workspace:2.0.0-alpha.13
+      "@blitzjs/generator": 2.0.0-alpha.13
       "@types/cookie": 0.4.1
       "@types/cross-spawn": 6.0.2
       "@types/debug": 4.1.7
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ importers:
 
   packages/blitz-auth:
     specifiers:
-      "@blitzjs/config": workspace:2.0.0-alpha.12
+      "@blitzjs/config": workspace:2.0.0-alpha.13
       "@testing-library/react": 13.0.0
       "@testing-library/react-hooks": 7.0.2
       "@types/b64-lite": 1.3.0
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ importers:
       "@types/secure-password": 3.1.1
       b64-lite: 1.4.0
       bad-behavior: 1.0.1
-      blitz: 2.0.0-alpha.12
+      blitz: 2.0.0-alpha.13
       cookie: 0.4.1
       debug: 4.3.3
       http: 0.0.1-security
@@ -413,8 +413,8 @@ importers:
 
   packages/blitz-next:
     specifiers:
-      "@blitzjs/config": workspace:2.0.0-alpha.12
-      "@blitzjs/rpc": 2.0.0-alpha.12
+      "@blitzjs/config": workspace:2.0.0-alpha.13
+      "@blitzjs/rpc": 2.0.0-alpha.13
       "@testing-library/dom": 8.13.0
       "@testing-library/jest-dom": 5.16.3
       "@testing-library/react": 13.0.0
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ importers:
       "@types/react": 17.0.43
       "@types/react-dom": 17.0.14
       "@types/testing-library__react-hooks": 4.0.0
-      blitz: 2.0.0-alpha.12
+      blitz: 2.0.0-alpha.13
       cross-spawn: 7.0.3
       debug: 4.3.3
       find-up: 4.1.0
@@ -472,14 +472,14 @@ importers:
 
   packages/blitz-rpc:
     specifiers:
-      "@blitzjs/auth": 2.0.0-alpha.12
-      "@blitzjs/config": workspace:2.0.0-alpha.12
+      "@blitzjs/auth": 2.0.0-alpha.13
+      "@blitzjs/config": workspace:2.0.0-alpha.13
       "@types/debug": 4.1.7
       "@types/react": 17.0.43
       "@types/react-dom": 17.0.14
       b64-lite: 1.4.0
       bad-behavior: 1.0.1
-      blitz: 2.0.0-alpha.12
+      blitz: 2.0.0-alpha.13
       chalk: ^4.1.0
       debug: 4.3.3
       next: 12.1.1
@@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ importers:
       "@babel/plugin-transform-typescript": 7.12.1
       "@babel/preset-env": 7.12.10
       "@babel/types": 7.12.10
-      "@blitzjs/config": 2.0.0-alpha.12
+      "@blitzjs/config": 2.0.0-alpha.13
       "@juanm04/cpx": 2.0.1
       "@mrleebo/prisma-ast": 0.2.6
       "@types/babel__core": 7.1.19
@@ -625,7 +625,7 @@ importers:
 
   packages/pkg-template:
     specifiers:
-      "@blitzjs/config": 2.0.0-alpha.12
+      "@blitzjs/config": 2.0.0-alpha.13
       "@types/react": 17.0.43
       "@types/react-dom": 17.0.14
       "@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": 5.9.1
@@ -5318,7 +5318,7 @@ packages:
     hasBin: true
     dependencies:
       caniuse-lite: 1.0.30001334
-      electron-to-chromium: 1.4.127
+      electron-to-chromium: 1.4.128
       escalade: 3.1.1
       node-releases: 2.0.4
       picocolors: 1.0.0
@@ -6616,10 +6616,10 @@ packages:
       jake: 10.8.5
     dev: false
 
-  /electron-to-chromium/1.4.127:
+  /electron-to-chromium/1.4.128:
     resolution:
       {
-        integrity: sha512-nhD6S8nKI0O2MueC6blNOEZio+/PWppE/pevnf3LOlQA/fKPCrDp2Ao4wx4LFwmIkJpVdFdn2763YWLy9ENIZg==,
+        integrity: sha512-DT8G+2drgywCWN+74jbYJ7yXbdec9wefs+K8C0Tu2Hbhj7K0nod17Iq8hoS21MpuYYrL6oXu2Kd636KmzXVugQ==,
       }
 
   /emittery/0.8.1: