diff --git a/bin/install-addons.js b/bin/install-addons.js
index 23ae445a99..83adea1f05 100644
--- a/bin/install-addons.js
+++ b/bin/install-addons.js
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ if (fs.existsSync(addonsPath)) {
       const addonPath = path.join(addonsPath, folder);
 
       // install only if there are dependencies listed
-      // also skip addon if it does not contain any package.json
-      // (might happen after branch switches)
       let packageJson;
       try {
         packageJson = require(path.join(addonPath, 'package.json'));
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 7762cd84bd..1bc7861e06 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
   "repository": "https://github.com/xtermjs/xterm.js",
   "license": "MIT",
   "scripts": {
-    "postinstall": "node -e \"try { require('./bin/install-addons'); } catch(e) {}\"",
     "prepackage": "npm run build",
     "package": "webpack",
     "start": "node demo/start",
@@ -17,6 +16,7 @@
     "posttest": "npm run lint",
     "test-api": "mocha \"**/*.api.js\"",
     "test-unit": "node ./bin/test.js",
+    "prebuild": "node ./bin/install-addons.js",
     "build": "tsc -b ./tsconfig.all.json",
     "prepare": "npm run build",
     "prepublishOnly": "npm run package",