diff --git a/dash_vite_plugin/plugin.py b/dash_vite_plugin/plugin.py
index 520d400..63a5b3e 100644
--- a/dash_vite_plugin/plugin.py
+++ b/dash_vite_plugin/plugin.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def __init__(
         support_less: bool = False,
         support_sass: bool = False,
         download_node: bool = False,
-        node_version: str = '18.17.0',
+        node_version: str = '18.20.8',
         clean_after: bool = False,
         skip_build_if_recent: bool = True,
         skip_build_time_threshold: int = 5,
diff --git a/tests/test_dash_integration.py b/tests/test_dash_integration.py
index 017d290..f4acf83 100644
--- a/tests/test_dash_integration.py
+++ b/tests/test_dash_integration.py
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ def test_vite_plugin_integration(self, dash_duo: DashComposite):
             build_assets_paths=['assets/js'],
             entry_js_paths=['assets/js/main.js'],
             npm_packages=[NpmPackage('react')],
+            download_node=True,
             clean_after=False,
         )
 
@@ -202,6 +203,7 @@ def test_vite_plugin_with_less_support(self, dash_duo: DashComposite):
             entry_js_paths=['assets/js/main.js'],
             npm_packages=[NpmPackage('react')],
             support_less=True,
+            download_node=True,
             clean_after=False,
         )
 
@@ -289,6 +291,7 @@ def test_vite_plugin_with_assets_path_ignore(self, dash_duo: DashComposite):
             build_assets_paths=['./assets/css', 'assets/js'],  # These should be ignored by Dash
             entry_js_paths=['assets/js/main.js'],
             npm_packages=[NpmPackage('react')],
+            download_node=True,
             clean_after=False,
         )
 
@@ -362,6 +365,7 @@ def test_vite_plugin_skip_build_if_recent(self, dash_duo: DashComposite):
             build_assets_paths=['assets/js'],
             entry_js_paths=['assets/js/main.js'],
             npm_packages=[NpmPackage('react')],
+            download_node=True,
             clean_after=False,
             skip_build_if_recent=True,
             skip_build_time_threshold=5,  # 5 second threshold
@@ -459,6 +463,7 @@ def test_vite_plugin_with_custom_tmp_dir(self, dash_duo: DashComposite):
             entry_js_paths=['assets/js/main.js'],
             npm_packages=[NpmPackage('react')],
             plugin_tmp_dir='_custom_vite',
+            download_node=True,
             clean_after=False,
         )
 
@@ -535,6 +540,7 @@ def test_vite_plugin_with_clean_after(self, dash_duo: DashComposite):
             build_assets_paths=['assets/js'],
             entry_js_paths=['assets/js/main.js'],
             npm_packages=[NpmPackage('react')],
+            download_node=True,
             clean_after=True,
         )
 
@@ -678,6 +684,7 @@ def test_vite_plugin_with_vue_support(self, dash_duo: DashComposite):
             build_assets_paths=['assets/js', 'assets/vue'],
             entry_js_paths=['assets/js/main.js'],
             npm_packages=[NpmPackage('vue')],
+            download_node=True,
             clean_after=False,
         )
 
@@ -878,6 +885,7 @@ def test_vite_plugin_with_react_support(self, dash_duo: DashComposite):
                 NpmPackage('react'),
                 NpmPackage('react-dom'),
             ],
+            download_node=True,
             clean_after=False,
         )
 
diff --git a/tests/test_plugin.py b/tests/test_plugin.py
index 1bf6eee..36a64d5 100644
--- a/tests/test_plugin.py
+++ b/tests/test_plugin.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def test_plugin_initialization(self):
         assert plugin.support_less is False
         assert plugin.support_sass is False
         assert plugin.download_node is False
-        assert plugin.node_version == '18.17.0'
+        assert plugin.node_version == '18.20.8'
         assert plugin.clean_after is False
         assert plugin.skip_build_if_recent is True
         assert plugin.skip_build_time_threshold == 5