diff --git a/packages/slidev/node/cli.ts b/packages/slidev/node/cli.ts
index 2fcc8bc5a1..a34318fe35 100644
--- a/packages/slidev/node/cli.ts
+++ b/packages/slidev/node/cli.ts
@@ -391,7 +391,6 @@ cli.command(
     .help(),
   async (args) => {
     const { entry, theme } = args
-    process.env.NODE_ENV = 'production'
     const { exportSlides, getExportOptions } = await import('./export')
     const port = await findFreePort(12445)
 
@@ -444,7 +443,6 @@ cli.command(
     output,
     timeout,
   }) => {
-    process.env.NODE_ENV = 'production'
     const { exportNotes } = await import('./export')
     const port = await findFreePort(12445)
 
diff --git a/packages/slidev/node/server.ts b/packages/slidev/node/server.ts
index 57884fc8d6..1eaf0a073e 100644
--- a/packages/slidev/node/server.ts
+++ b/packages/slidev/node/server.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ export async function createServer(
         plugins: [
           await ViteSlidevPlugin(options, config.slidev || {}, serverOptions),
         ],
+        define: {
+          // Fixes Vue production mode breaking PDF Export #1245
+          __VUE_PROD_DEVTOOLS__: JSON.stringify(true),
+        },
       },
     ),
   )