diff --git a/packages/cli/src/exec.js b/packages/cli/src/exec.js
index 07520336c4..8b1134c897 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/exec.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/exec.js
@@ -21,5 +21,6 @@ exports.runPkgCommand = async command => {
   if (!yarn && !npm) {
     throw new Error("Must have yarn or npm installed to run build.")
   }
-  await exports.exec(yarn ? `yarn ${command}` : `npm run ${command}`)
+  const npmCmd = command === "install" ? `npm ${command}` : `npm run ${command}`
+  await exports.exec(yarn ? `yarn ${command}` : npmCmd)
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/plugins/index.js b/packages/cli/src/plugins/index.js
index 6ec99ac7fa..6ce2d47e63 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/plugins/index.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/plugins/index.js
@@ -33,8 +33,11 @@ async function init(opts) {
   )
   const version = await questions.string("Version", "1.0.0")
   // get the skeleton
+  console.log(info("Retrieving project..."))
   await getSkeleton(type, name)
   await fleshOutSkeleton(name, desc, version)
+  console.log(info("Installing dependencies..."))
+  await runPkgCommand("install")
   console.log(info(`Plugin created in directory "${name}"`))
 }