diff --git a/extensions/npm/src/npmView.ts b/extensions/npm/src/npmView.ts
index d087e75347a..38768b47710 100644
--- a/extensions/npm/src/npmView.ts
+++ b/extensions/npm/src/npmView.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ import {
 	createTask, getPackageManager, getTaskName, isAutoDetectionEnabled, isWorkspaceFolder, INpmTaskDefinition,
 	NpmTaskProvider,
 	startDebugging,
-	ITaskWithLocation
+	ITaskWithLocation,
+	INSTALL_SCRIPT
 } from './tasks';
 
 
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ class NpmScript extends TreeItem {
 			: task.task.name;
 		super(name, TreeItemCollapsibleState.None);
 		this.taskLocation = task.location;
-		const command: ExplorerCommands = workspace.getConfiguration('npm').get<ExplorerCommands>('scriptExplorerAction') || 'open';
+		const command: ExplorerCommands = name === `${INSTALL_SCRIPT} ` ? 'run' : workspace.getConfiguration('npm').get<ExplorerCommands>('scriptExplorerAction') || 'open';
 
 		const commandList = {
 			'open': {
diff --git a/extensions/npm/src/tasks.ts b/extensions/npm/src/tasks.ts
index 17bb815f962..390da48cf58 100644
--- a/extensions/npm/src/tasks.ts
+++ b/extensions/npm/src/tasks.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ type AutoDetect = 'on' | 'off';
 
 let cachedTasks: ITaskWithLocation[] | undefined = undefined;
 
-const INSTALL_SCRIPT = 'install';
+export const INSTALL_SCRIPT = 'install';
 
 export interface ITaskLocation {
 	document: Uri;