diff --git a/scripts/backport.js b/scripts/backport.js
index 64cd5721834ea..2094534e2c4b3 100644
--- a/scripts/backport.js
+++ b/scripts/backport.js
@@ -18,4 +18,5 @@
  */
 
 require('../src/setup_node_env/node_version_validator');
-require('backport');
+var backport = require('backport');
+backport.run();