diff --git a/src/scripts/starttask.sh b/src/scripts/starttask.sh
index a9458c9a3..118ac3204 100755
--- a/src/scripts/starttask.sh
+++ b/src/scripts/starttask.sh
@@ -48,8 +48,9 @@ if [[ "${ubuntu_version}" == "18.04" ]]; then
 fi
 
 # DEBUG has to be hardcoded because it is not set in the tests. --setenv is required for ubuntu 16 (-E does not work)
+# NODE_OPTIONS is used because env -S does not work in ubuntu 16/18.
 systemd-run --unit "${service_name}" --nice "${nice}" --uid=${id} --gid=${id} ${options} \
-    --setenv HOME=${HOME} --setenv USER=${SUDO_USER} --setenv DEBUG=box:* --setenv BOX_ENV=${BOX_ENV} --setenv NODE_ENV=production \
+    --setenv HOME=${HOME} --setenv USER=${SUDO_USER} --setenv DEBUG=box:* --setenv BOX_ENV=${BOX_ENV} --setenv NODE_ENV=production --setenv NODE_OPTIONS=--unhandled-rejections=strict \
     "${task_worker}" "${task_id}" "${logfile}"
 exit_code=$?