diff --git a/editor/header/tools/publish-button.js b/editor/header/tools/publish-button.js
index dfac11ec32c78a..f20fef3a95a897 100644
--- a/editor/header/tools/publish-button.js
+++ b/editor/header/tools/publish-button.js
@@ -62,12 +62,17 @@ function PublishButton( {
 		saveCallback = onSaveDraft;
 	}
 
+	const buttonDisabledHint = process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production'
+		? wp.i18n.__( 'The Save button is disabled during early alpha releases.' )
+		: null;
+
 	return (
 		<Button
 			isPrimary
 			isLarge
 			onClick={ () => saveCallback( post, edits, blocks ) }
-			disabled={ ! buttonEnabled }
+			disabled={ ! buttonEnabled || process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production' }
+			title={ buttonDisabledHint }
 		>
 			{ buttonText }
 		</Button>
diff --git a/webpack.config.js b/webpack.config.js
index a70c5e593c3873..fd9feb954f5f9d 100644
--- a/webpack.config.js
+++ b/webpack.config.js
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ const config = {
 	},
 	plugins: [
 		new webpack.DefinePlugin( {
-			'process.env.NODE_ENV': JSON.stringify( process.env.NODE_ENV ),
+			'process.env.NODE_ENV': JSON.stringify( process.env.NODE_ENV || 'development' ),
 		} ),
 		new ExtractTextPlugin( {
 			filename: './[name]/build/style.css',