diff --git a/generators/server/generator.js b/generators/server/generator.js
index 23fc8fc2738d..ae76482b1e96 100644
--- a/generators/server/generator.js
+++ b/generators/server/generator.js
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ export default class JHipsterServerGenerator extends BaseApplicationGenerator {
   useNpmWrapperInstallTask() {
     this.setFeatures({
       customInstallTask: async function customInstallTask(preferredPm, defaultInstallTask) {
-        const buildTool = this.jhipsterConfig.buildTool;
+        const buildTool = this.jhipsterConfigWithDefaults.buildTool;
         if ((preferredPm && preferredPm !== 'npm') || this.jhipsterConfig.skipClient || (buildTool !== GRADLE && buildTool !== MAVEN)) {
           return defaultInstallTask();
         }