diff --git a/core/modules/startup/load-modules.js b/core/modules/startup/load-modules.js
index cf0a8232d..c94335fb7 100644
--- a/core/modules/startup/load-modules.js
+++ b/core/modules/startup/load-modules.js
@@ -31,5 +31,7 @@ exports.startup = function() {
 	$tw.modules.applyMethods("tiddlerdeserializer",$tw.Wiki.tiddlerDeserializerModules);
 	$tw.macros = $tw.modules.getModulesByTypeAsHashmap("macro");
 	$tw.wiki.initParsers();
-	$tw.Commander.initCommands();
+	if($tw.node) {
+		$tw.Commander.initCommands();
+	}
 };