diff --git a/aio/package.json b/aio/package.json
index 5d2e730d75d03..8c24e7de04586 100644
--- a/aio/package.json
+++ b/aio/package.json
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
     "test": "yarn check-env && ng test",
     "pree2e": "yarn check-env && yarn ~~update-webdriver",
     "e2e": "ng e2e --no-webdriver-update",
+    "e2e-prod": "yarn e2e --environment=dev --target=production",
     "preinstall": "node ../tools/yarn/check-yarn.js",
     "presetup": "yarn install --frozen-lockfile && yarn ~~check-env && yarn boilerplate:remove",
     "setup": "yarn aio-use-npm && yarn example-use-npm",
diff --git a/scripts/ci/test-aio.sh b/scripts/ci/test-aio.sh
index 6f4a143b9a728..033cdba4bc1fd 100755
--- a/scripts/ci/test-aio.sh
+++ b/scripts/ci/test-aio.sh
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ source ${thisDir}/_travis-fold.sh
 
   # Run e2e tests
   travisFoldStart "test.aio.e2e"
-    yarn e2e
+    # Use `production` mode to catch issues introduced by build optimizations.
+    yarn e2e-prod
   travisFoldEnd "test.aio.e2e"