diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index e1d0942..eafcd16 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ express_max_versioned_folders: 10
 express_package_json_paths:
   - "{{ express_app_path }}"
   - "{{ express_checkout_path }}"
+express_compile_javascript: true
 
 # app settings
 express_app_settings:
diff --git a/tasks/configure.yml b/tasks/configure.yml
index d0b35bd..caed0b0 100644
--- a/tasks/configure.yml
+++ b/tasks/configure.yml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
   become_user: "{{ express_system_user }}"
   tags:
     - molecule-idempotence-notest  # noqa 301
+  when: express_compile_javascript|bool
 
 # creates a sym-link express_codebase_path; that points to the express checkout path
 - name: Make the new codebase current