diff --git a/generators/hooks/build/dev.go b/generators/hooks/build/dev.go
index 84a303e3..ece04ee9 100644
--- a/generators/hooks/build/dev.go
+++ b/generators/hooks/build/dev.go
@@ -8,10 +8,14 @@ import (
 )
 
 func DevPayload(appModel *models.App) string {
-	// create an APP_IP evar
 	evars := appModel.Evars
+
+	// create an APP_IP evar
 	evars["APP_IP"] = appModel.LocalIPs["env"]
 
+	// create a NANOBOX evar
+	evars["NANOBOX"] = "nanobox"
+
 	rtn := map[string]interface{}{}
 	rtn["env"] = evars
 	rtn["boxfile"] = appModel.DeployedBoxfile