diff --git a/plugins/npm/npm.plugin.zsh b/plugins/npm/npm.plugin.zsh
index 43af35ddb..f62174a4f 100644
--- a/plugins/npm/npm.plugin.zsh
+++ b/plugins/npm/npm.plugin.zsh
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 (( $+commands[npm] )) && {
-    __NPM_COMPLETION_FILE="${ZSH_CACHE_DIR}/npm_completion"
+    __NPM_COMPLETION_FILE="${ZSH_CACHE_DIR:-$ZSH/cache}/npm_completion"
 
     if [[ ! -f $__NPM_COMPLETION_FILE ]]; then
         npm completion >! $__NPM_COMPLETION_FILE 2>/dev/null