diff --git a/tasks/e2e-simple.sh b/tasks/e2e-simple.sh
index 7f70eeb4c3a..594f4604085 100755
--- a/tasks/e2e-simple.sh
+++ b/tasks/e2e-simple.sh
@@ -152,6 +152,12 @@ mv package.json.orig package.json
 
 # Install the CLI in a temporary location
 cd "$temp_cli_path"
+
+# Initialize package.json before installing the CLI because npm will not install
+# the CLI properly in the temporary location if it is missing.
+npm init --yes
+
+# Now we can install the CLI from the local package.
 npm install "$cli_path"
 
 # Install the app in a temporary location