diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/app/build.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/app/build.ts
index 21189e9427..0da4112646 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/app/build.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/app/build.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ export default async (cmd: Command) => {
     ...(await loadCliConfig({
       args: cmd.config,
       fromPackage: name,
+      mockEnv: cmd.lax,
     })),
   });
 };
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/index.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/index.ts
index c770239464..ae39941106 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/index.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/index.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export function registerCommands(program: CommanderStatic) {
     .command('app:build')
     .description('Build an app for a production release')
     .option('--stats', 'Write bundle stats to output directory')
+    .option('--lax', 'Do not require environment variables to be set')
     .option(...configOption)
     .action(lazy(() => import('./app/build').then(m => m.default)));