diff --git a/bundles/element-web/items.py b/bundles/element-web/items.py
index d006df3..0edf9c9 100644
--- a/bundles/element-web/items.py
+++ b/bundles/element-web/items.py
@@ -25,11 +25,15 @@ files = {
     },
 }
 
+extra_install_cmds = []
+if node.metadata.get('nodejs/version') >= 17:
+    # TODO verify this is still needed when upgrading to 1.12
+    extra_install_cmds.append('export NODE_OPTIONS=--openssl-legacy-provider')
+
 actions = {
     'element-web_yarn': {
         'command': ' && '.join([
-            # TODO verify this is still needed when upgrading to 1.12
-            'export NODE_OPTIONS=--openssl-legacy-provider',
+            *extra_install_cmds,
             'cd /opt/element-web',
             'yarn install --pure-lockfile --ignore-scripts',
             'yarn build',
diff --git a/bundles/nodejs/metadata.py b/bundles/nodejs/metadata.py
index f41aa5e..4609903 100644
--- a/bundles/nodejs/metadata.py
+++ b/bundles/nodejs/metadata.py
@@ -9,13 +9,16 @@ defaults = {
             'nodejs': {},
         },
     },
+    'nodejs': {
+        'version': 18,
+    },
 }
 
 @metadata_reactor.provides(
     'apt/repos/nodejs/items',
 )
 def nodejs_from_version(metadata):
-    version = metadata.get('nodejs/version', 18)
+    version = metadata.get('nodejs/version')
     return {
         'apt': {
             'repos': {