diff --git a/docs/content/using-npm/config.md b/docs/content/using-npm/config.md
index 83a385e08344f..0af538fed52bc 100644
--- a/docs/content/using-npm/config.md
+++ b/docs/content/using-npm/config.md
@@ -1190,6 +1190,8 @@ When package package-locks are disabled, automatic pruning of extraneous
 modules will also be disabled. To remove extraneous modules with
 package-locks disabled use `npm prune`.
 
+This configuration does not affect `npm ci`.
+
 <!-- automatically generated, do not edit manually -->
 <!-- see lib/utils/config/definitions.js -->
 
diff --git a/lib/commands/ci.js b/lib/commands/ci.js
index 2c2f8da866653..16c8bf22f9e85 100644
--- a/lib/commands/ci.js
+++ b/lib/commands/ci.js
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ class CI extends ArboristWorkspaceCmd {
     const where = this.npm.prefix
     const opts = {
       ...this.npm.flatOptions,
+      packageLock: true, // npm ci should never skip lock files
       path: where,
       log,
       save: false, // npm ci should never modify the lockfile or package.json
diff --git a/lib/utils/config/definitions.js b/lib/utils/config/definitions.js
index 95d79f0f05325..79222881c9734 100644
--- a/lib/utils/config/definitions.js
+++ b/lib/utils/config/definitions.js
@@ -1417,6 +1417,8 @@ define('package-lock', {
     When package package-locks are disabled, automatic pruning of extraneous
     modules will also be disabled.  To remove extraneous modules with
     package-locks disabled use \`npm prune\`.
+
+    This configuration does not affect \`npm ci\`.
   `,
   flatten: (key, obj, flatOptions) => {
     flatten(key, obj, flatOptions)
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/definitions.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/definitions.js.test.cjs
index 459c5de8dc284..ab706be89b835 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/definitions.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/definitions.js.test.cjs
@@ -1271,6 +1271,8 @@ will also prevent _writing_ \`package-lock.json\` if \`save\` is true.
 When package package-locks are disabled, automatic pruning of extraneous
 modules will also be disabled. To remove extraneous modules with
 package-locks disabled use \`npm prune\`.
+
+This configuration does not affect \`npm ci\`.
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/utils/config/definitions.js TAP > config description for package-lock-only 1`] = `
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/describe-all.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/describe-all.js.test.cjs
index ffa6617328bc6..58958ebdab954 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/describe-all.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/describe-all.js.test.cjs
@@ -1064,6 +1064,8 @@ When package package-locks are disabled, automatic pruning of extraneous
 modules will also be disabled. To remove extraneous modules with
 package-locks disabled use \`npm prune\`.
 
+This configuration does not affect \`npm ci\`.
+
 <!-- automatically generated, do not edit manually -->
 <!-- see lib/utils/config/definitions.js -->