diff --git a/src/stub.rs b/src/stub.rs
index d826adb..24aab2d 100644
--- a/src/stub.rs
+++ b/src/stub.rs
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ fn main() -> wry::Result<()> {
         .join(format!("um-react!{}", APP_UUID));
     let exe_path = std::env::current_exe().unwrap();
     let um_react_external = exe_path.parent().unwrap().join("um-react.zip");
-    let zip_content = if um_react_external.exists() {
+    let zip_content = if cfg!(debug_assertions) && um_react_external.exists() {
         // debug/prod: override by reading from external zip archive
         parse_external_zip(&um_react_external).unwrap()
     } else {