diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index aacd5f5172..e9085cfaa4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ We've also built a [starter kit](http://facebook.github.io/react/downloads/react
 If you'd like to use [bower](http://bower.io), it's as easy as:
 
 ```sh
-bower install react
+bower install --save react
 ```
 
 ## Contribute
diff --git a/docs/downloads.md b/docs/downloads.md
index 7ebac19722..71186f982b 100644
--- a/docs/downloads.md
+++ b/docs/downloads.md
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ The JSX transformer used to support [XML syntax](/react/docs/syntax.html) in Jav
 ## Bower
 
 ```sh
-$ bower install react
+$ bower install --save react
 ```
 
 ## NPM