diff --git a/docs/configuration/configuration.md b/docs/configuration/configuration.md
index d1347ae5357..a41cca9283b 100644
--- a/docs/configuration/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration/configuration.md
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ Env file `electron-builder.env` in the current dir ([example](https://github.com
 ---
 
 * <code id="Configuration-afterSign">afterSign</code> (context: AfterPackContext) => Promise | null - The function (or path to file or module id) to be run after pack and sign (but before pack into distributable format).
-* <code id="Configuration-beforeBuild">beforeBuild</code> (context: BeforeBuildContext) => Promise | null - The function (or path to file or module id) to be run before dependencies are installed or rebuilt. Works when `npmRebuild` is set to `true`. Resolving to `false` will skip dependencies install or rebuild.
+* <code id="Configuration-beforeBuild">beforeBuild</code> (context: BeforeBuildContext) => Promise | null - The function (or path to file or module id) to be run before dependencies are installed or rebuilt. Works when `npmRebuild` is set to `true`. If provided and `node_modules` are missing it will not invoke production dependencies check. Resolving to `false` will skip dependencies install or rebuild.
 * <code id="Configuration-remoteBuild">remoteBuild</code> = `true` Boolean - Whether to build using Electron Build Service if target not supported on current OS.
 * <code id="Configuration-includePdb">includePdb</code> = `false` Boolean - Whether to include PDB files.
 * <code id="Configuration-removePackageScripts">removePackageScripts</code> = `true` Boolean - Whether to remove `scripts` field from `package.json` files.
diff --git a/packages/electron-builder-lib/src/configuration.ts b/packages/electron-builder-lib/src/configuration.ts
index c161a2ed1d3..74e209f0bf9 100644
--- a/packages/electron-builder-lib/src/configuration.ts
+++ b/packages/electron-builder-lib/src/configuration.ts
@@ -174,6 +174,8 @@ export interface Configuration extends PlatformSpecificBuildOptions {
 
   /**
    * The function (or path to file or module id) to be run before dependencies are installed or rebuilt. Works when `npmRebuild` is set to `true`. Resolving to `false` will skip dependencies install or rebuild.
+   *
+   * If provided and `node_modules` are missing, it will not invoke production dependencies check.
    */
   readonly beforeBuild?: ((context: BeforeBuildContext) => Promise<any>) | string| null
 
diff --git a/packages/electron-builder-lib/src/packager.ts b/packages/electron-builder-lib/src/packager.ts
index d22bd2d5a5e..670ee4220ee 100644
--- a/packages/electron-builder-lib/src/packager.ts
+++ b/packages/electron-builder-lib/src/packager.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import isCI from "is-ci"
 import { dump } from "js-yaml"
 import { Lazy } from "lazy-val"
 import * as path from "path"
+import { exists } from "builder-util/out/fs"
 import { AppInfo } from "./appInfo"
 import { readAsarJson } from "./asar/asar"
 import { AfterPackContext, Configuration } from "./configuration"
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ import { PlatformPackager, resolveFunction } from "./platformPackager"
 import { computeArchToTargetNamesMap, createTargets, NoOpTarget } from "./targets/targetFactory"
 import { computeDefaultAppDirectory, getConfig, validateConfig } from "./util/config"
 import { computeElectronVersion, getElectronVersionFromInstalled } from "./util/electronVersion"
-import { createLazyProductionDeps, Dependency } from "./util/packageDependencies"
+import { Dependency, getProductionDependencies } from "./util/packageDependencies"
 import { checkMetadata, readPackageJson } from "./util/packageMetadata"
 import { getRepositoryInfo } from "./util/repositoryInfo"
 import { getGypEnv, installOrRebuild } from "./util/yarn"
@@ -91,7 +92,15 @@ export class Packager {
   get productionDeps(): Lazy<Array<Dependency>> {
     let result = this._productionDeps
     if (result == null) {
-      result = createLazyProductionDeps(this.appDir)
+      // https://github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder/issues/2551
+      result = new Lazy(async () => {
+        if (this.config.beforeBuild == null || (await exists(path.join(this.appDir, "node_modules")))) {
+          return await getProductionDependencies(this.appDir)
+        }
+        else {
+          return []
+        }
+      })
       this._productionDeps = result
     }
     return result
diff --git a/test/out/__snapshots__/filesTest.js.snap b/test/out/__snapshots__/filesTest.js.snap
index 6847aeaab7f..95b9fc35417 100644
--- a/test/out/__snapshots__/filesTest.js.snap
+++ b/test/out/__snapshots__/filesTest.js.snap
@@ -91,8 +91,8 @@ Array [
   "lib/net45/node.dll",
   "lib/net45/pdf_viewer_resources.pak",
   "lib/net45/snapshot_blob.bin",
-  "lib/net45/Test%20App%20%C3%9FW.exe",
-  "lib/net45/Test%20App%20%C3%9FW_ExecutionStub.exe",
+  "lib/net45/Test App ßW.exe",
+  "lib/net45/Test App ßW_ExecutionStub.exe",
   "lib/net45/ucrtbase.dll",
   "lib/net45/ui_resources_200_percent.pak",
   "lib/net45/Update.exe",