diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index 102d0981ade..d68fd96f1c8 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ jobs:
     working_directory: ~/plotly.js
     steps:
       - checkout
+      - run:
+          name: set heap option before very first node.js call
+          command: |
+            export NODE_OPTIONS='--max-old-space-size=4096'
       - run:
           name: Install dependencies
           command: |