diff --git a/hardhat.config.js b/hardhat.config.js
index 2dad03553..fe6faf124 100644
--- a/hardhat.config.js
+++ b/hardhat.config.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ for (const f of fs.readdirSync(path.join(__dirname, 'hardhat'))) {
 }
 
 const enableGasReport = !!process.env.ENABLE_GAS_REPORT;
+const enableProduction = process.env.COMPILE_MODE === 'production';
 
 /**
  * @type import('hardhat/config').HardhatUserConfig
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ module.exports = {
     version: '0.8.0',
     settings: {
       optimizer: {
-        enabled: enableGasReport,
+        enabled: enableGasReport || enableProduction,
         runs: 200,
       },
     },
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 395194d40..1e0bd2475 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
     "lint:js:fix": "eslint --ignore-path .gitignore . --fix",
     "lint:sol": "echo 'solidity linter currently disabled' # solhint --max-warnings 0 \"contracts/**/*.sol\"",
     "prepublish": "rimraf build contracts/build artifacts cache",
-    "prepare": "npm run compile",
+    "prepare": "env COMPILE_MODE=production npm run compile",
     "prepack": "scripts/prepack.sh",
     "release": "scripts/release/release.sh",
     "version": "scripts/release/version.sh",