diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 2fe790dc85..d3713bb75a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@
     "debug-unittest": "DEBUG=1 npm run unittest",
     "e2etest": "python scripts/test/run_test_suite.py --test-suite=e2e",
     "eslint-test": "mocha \"./scripts/eslint_rules/tests/*_test.js\"",
+    "generate-bridge-file": "tsc -p scripts/component_bridges/tsconfig.json && node scripts/component_bridges/gen/cli.js",
     "generate-bridges-test": "tsc -p test/unittests/scripts/component_bridges/tsconfig.json && mocha test/unittests/scripts/component_bridges/**/*_test.js",
     "generate-protocol-resources": "python scripts/deps/generate_protocol_resources.py && git cl format --js",
-    "generate-bridge-file": "tsc -p scripts/component_bridges/tsconfig.json && node scripts/component_bridges/gen/cli.js",
     "install-deps": "PUPPETEER_SKIP_CHROMIUM_DOWNLOAD=true python scripts/deps/manage_node_deps.py",
     "interactive-screenshottest": "INTERACTIVE=1 python scripts/test/run_test_suite.py --test-suite=screenshots",
     "optimize-svg-images": "python scripts/optimize_svg_images.py",
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
     "start": "node scripts/hosted_mode/start_chrome_and_server.js",
     "test": "node scripts/npm_test.js",
     "test-local": "node scripts/npm_test.js --layout-tests-directory=test/webtests/",
-    "unittest": "NO_TEXT_COVERAGE=1 python scripts/test/run_unittests.py",
-    "ts_library-test": "./third_party/typescript/tests/verify_ts_libary.sh"
+    "ts_library-test": "./third_party/typescript/tests/verify_ts_libary.sh",
+    "unittest": "NO_TEXT_COVERAGE=1 python scripts/test/run_unittests.py"
   }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/deps/manage_node_deps.py b/scripts/deps/manage_node_deps.py
index 57521f5382..84bc93b2b3 100644
--- a/scripts/deps/manage_node_deps.py
+++ b/scripts/deps/manage_node_deps.py
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ DEPS = {
 def exec_command(cmd):
     try:
         cmd_proc_result = subprocess.check_call(cmd, cwd=devtools_paths.root_path())
-    except Error as error:
-        print(error.output)
+    except Exception as error:
+        print(error)
         return True
 
     return False
@@ -93,7 +93,6 @@ def strip_private_fields():
 
     for pkg in packages:
         with open(pkg, 'r+') as pkg_file:
-            prop_removal_count = 0
             try:
                 pkg_data = json.load(pkg_file)
 
@@ -102,12 +101,10 @@ def strip_private_fields():
                 for key in pkg_data.keys():
                     if key.find(u'_') == 0:
                         pkg_data.pop(key)
-                        prop_removal_count = prop_removal_count + 1
 
                 pkg_file.truncate(0)
                 pkg_file.seek(0)
                 json.dump(pkg_data, pkg_file, indent=2, sort_keys=True, separators=(',', ': '))
-                print("(%s): %s" % (prop_removal_count, pkg))
             except:
                 print('Unable to fix: %s' % pkg)
                 return True
@@ -115,6 +112,7 @@ def strip_private_fields():
     return False
 
 
+# Required to keep the package-lock.json in sync with the package.json dependencies
 def install_missing_deps():
     with open(devtools_paths.package_lock_json_path(), 'r+') as pkg_lock_file:
         try:
@@ -188,37 +186,49 @@ def addClangFormat():
     return False
 
 
-def install_deps():
+def run_npm_command(npm_command_args=None):
     for (name, version) in DEPS.items():
         if (version.find(u'^') == 0):
             print('Versions must be locked to a specific version; remove ^ from the start of the version.')
             return True
 
+    run_custom_command = npm_command_args is not None
+
     if append_package_json_entries():
         return True
 
     if install_missing_deps():
         return True
 
-    # Run the CI version of npm, which prevents updates to the versions of modules.
+    # By default, run the CI version of npm, which prevents updates to the versions of modules.
     if exec_command(['npm', 'ci']):
         return True
 
+    if run_custom_command:
+        custom_command_result = exec_command(['npm'] + npm_command_args)
+
+    if remove_package_json_entries():
+        return True
+
     if strip_private_fields():
         return True
 
-    if remove_package_json_entries():
-        return True
-
     if addClangFormat():
         return True
 
+    if run_custom_command:
+        return custom_command_result
+
     return ensure_licenses()
 
 
-npm_errors_found = install_deps()
+npm_args = None
+
+if (len(sys.argv[1:]) > 0):
+    npm_args = sys.argv[1:]
+
+npm_errors_found = run_npm_command(npm_args)
 
 if npm_errors_found:
-    print('npm installation failed')
-else:
-    print('npm installation successful')
+    print('npm command failed')
+    exit(1)