diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index de8e31294a0..7ee828347d1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -150,6 +150,9 @@ bin/rails db:seed
 bin/rails spree_sample:load
 ```
 
+`solidus_sample` is a development dependency, if you need to run `spree_sample:load`
+in production environments, then you have to add it to your local Gemfile `gem 'solidus_sample'`.
+
 There are also options and rake tasks provided by
 [solidus\_auth\_devise](https://github.com/solidusio/solidus_auth_devise).
 
diff --git a/solidus.gemspec b/solidus.gemspec
index 4a040ee6acb..82bc4fcb859 100644
--- a/solidus.gemspec
+++ b/solidus.gemspec
@@ -24,5 +24,6 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.add_dependency 'solidus_api', s.version
   s.add_dependency 'solidus_backend', s.version
   s.add_dependency 'solidus_core', s.version
-  s.add_dependency 'solidus_sample', s.version
+
+  s.add_development_dependency 'solidus_sample', s.version
 end