diff --git a/lib/API.js b/lib/API.js
index e4b96746..effab25b 100644
--- a/lib/API.js
+++ b/lib/API.js
@@ -895,7 +895,7 @@ API.prototype._startJson = function(file, opts, action, pipe, cb) {
       app.ignore_watch = opts.ignore_watch;
     if (opts.instances && typeof(opts.instances) === 'number')
       app.instances = opts.instances;
-    if (app.envSpecificInstance) {
+    if (app.envSpecificInstance && opts.env) {
       app.name += ('-' + opts.env);
     }
     apps_name.push(app.name);