diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0a253551404..347a011742a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -46,11 +46,11 @@ examples-proc: wasm-proc-release
 
 .PHONY: node
 node:
-	@ ./scripts/gear.sh build node
+	@ ./scripts/gear.sh build node -F dev
 
 .PHONY: node-release
 node-release:
-	@ ./scripts/gear.sh build node --release
+	@ ./scripts/gear.sh build node -F dev --release
 
 .PHONY: vara
 vara:
diff --git a/node/cli/src/command.rs b/node/cli/src/command.rs
index d88945fd663..4daf4785562 100644
--- a/node/cli/src/command.rs
+++ b/node/cli/src/command.rs
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ impl SubstrateCli for Cli {
 
     fn load_spec(&self, id: &str) -> Result<Box<dyn sc_service::ChainSpec>, String> {
         Ok(match id {
+            #[cfg(not(feature = "dev"))]
+            "dev" | "gear-dev" | "vara-dev" => return Err("Development runtimes are not available. Please compile the node with `-F dev` to enable it.".into()),
             #[cfg(all(feature = "gear-native", feature = "dev"))]
             "dev" | "gear-dev" => Box::new(chain_spec::gear::development_config()?),
             #[cfg(all(feature = "vara-native", feature = "dev"))]