diff --git a/scripts/install.sh b/scripts/install.sh
index 67c33544e9f..9e56b40517e 100755
--- a/scripts/install.sh
+++ b/scripts/install.sh
@@ -1415,6 +1415,9 @@ ensure_default_node_active_shell() {
 
 load_nvm_for_node_detection() {
     local nvm_dir="${NVM_DIR:-}"
+    if [[ -n "$nvm_dir" && ! -s "$nvm_dir/nvm.sh" ]]; then
+        nvm_dir=""
+    fi
     if [[ -z "$nvm_dir" && -s "$HOME/.nvm/nvm.sh" ]]; then
         nvm_dir="$HOME/.nvm"
     fi
diff --git a/test/scripts/install-sh.test.ts b/test/scripts/install-sh.test.ts
index d91dd0e62e3..a903bb17e32 100644
--- a/test/scripts/install-sh.test.ts
+++ b/test/scripts/install-sh.test.ts
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ describe("install.sh", () => {
         ].join("\n"),
         {
           HOME: home,
+          NVM_DIR: join(tmp, "stale-nvm"),
           PATH: `${systemBin}:/usr/bin:/bin`,
           TERM: "dumb",
         },