diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 4e98dfd..0750d59 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -3,18 +3,19 @@ FROM pelias/baseimage
 
 # downloader apt dependencies
 # note: this is done in one command in order to keep down the size of intermediate containers
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y autoconf automake libtool pkg-config python bzip2 && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y bzip2 && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
 # change working dir
 ENV WORKDIR /code/pelias/pip-service
 WORKDIR ${WORKDIR}
 
+# copy package.json first to prevent npm install being rerun when only code changes
+COPY ./package.json ${WORKDIR}
+RUN npm install
+
 # copy code from local checkout
 ADD . ${WORKDIR}
 
-# install npm dependencies
-RUN npm install
-
 # run tests
 RUN npm test