diff --git a/.nvmrc b/.nvmrc
index 49a625d6908..4be2b935c50 100644
--- a/.nvmrc
+++ b/.nvmrc
@@ -1 +1 @@
-v12.22.0
+v16.9.1
diff --git a/dev.yml b/dev.yml
index e740ce9aa11..ff3730ac3a0 100644
--- a/dev.yml
+++ b/dev.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ name: polaris-react
 up:
   - node:
       yarn: v1.13.0
-      version: v12.22.0 # to be kept in sync with .nvmrc and ci.yml
+      version: v16.9.1 # to be kept in sync with .nvmrc and ci.yml (when v8 has shipped)
   - git_hooks:
       pre-commit: pre-commit