diff --git a/awx/ui/test/e2e/cluster/docker-compose.yml b/awx/ui/test/e2e/cluster/docker-compose.yml
index bd2a0fac05..2b53751465 100644
--- a/awx/ui/test/e2e/cluster/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/awx/ui/test/e2e/cluster/docker-compose.yml
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ services:
     build:
       context: ../../../../../
       dockerfile: awx/ui/test/e2e/cluster/Dockerfile
+      args:
+        NPMRC_FILE: ${NPMRC_FILE}
     depends_on:
       - chrome
     links:
@@ -39,4 +41,3 @@ services:
       AWX_E2E_CLUSTER_HOST: hub
       AWX_E2E_CLUSTER_PORT: 4444
       DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS: /dev/null
-      NPMRC_FILE: ${NPMRC_FILE}