diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index a04fac1..7e991ed 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ addons:
 cache:
   ccache: true
   directories:
-    - $HOME/.npm
     - $TRAVIS_BUILD_DIR/.cache
     - $TRAVIS_BUILD_DIR/node_modules
 before_install:
diff --git a/nvm.sh b/nvm.sh
index 5a27ae6..2f59708 100644
--- a/nvm.sh
+++ b/nvm.sh
@@ -2338,7 +2338,8 @@ nvm_die_on_prefix() {
 
   # npm first looks at $PREFIX (case-sensitive)
   # we do not bother to test the value here; if this env var is set, unset it to continue.
-  if [ -n "${PREFIX-}" ]; then
+  # however, `npm exec` in npm v7.2+ sets $PREFIX; if set, inherit it
+  if [ -n "${PREFIX-}" ] && [ "$(nvm_version_path "$(node -v)")" != "${PREFIX}" ]; then
     nvm deactivate >/dev/null 2>&1
     nvm_err "nvm is not compatible with the \"PREFIX\" environment variable: currently set to \"${PREFIX}\""
     nvm_err 'Run `unset PREFIX` to unset it.'
@@ -2554,6 +2555,7 @@ nvm() {
     return $?
   fi
 
+  local i
   for i in "$@"
   do
     case $i in