diff --git a/packager.js b/packager.js
index 7c4be0a7..7dd013c6 100644
--- a/packager.js
+++ b/packager.js
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ var options = parseCommandLine([{
 }, {
   command: 'skipflow',
   description: 'Disable flow checks'
+}, {
+  command: 'nonPersistent',
+  description: 'Disable file watcher'
 }]);
 
 if (options.projectRoots) {
@@ -199,6 +202,7 @@ function statusPageMiddleware(req, res, next) {
 
 function getAppMiddleware(options) {
   return ReactPackager.middleware({
+    nonPersistent: options.nonPersistent,
     projectRoots: options.projectRoots,
     blacklistRE: blacklist(options.platform),
     cacheVersion: '2',
diff --git a/react-packager/src/FileWatcher/index.js b/react-packager/src/FileWatcher/index.js
index d90de452..cd1a28e5 100644
--- a/react-packager/src/FileWatcher/index.js
+++ b/react-packager/src/FileWatcher/index.js
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@ function createWatcher(rootConfig) {
     var watcher = new Watcher(rootConfig.dir, {
       glob: rootConfig.globs,
       dot: false,
-      ignore: '**/node_modules/**/*',
     });
 
     return new Promise(function(resolve, reject) {