diff --git a/WORKSPACE.bazel b/WORKSPACE.bazel
index 0bcade4c..e26d6452 100644
--- a/WORKSPACE.bazel
+++ b/WORKSPACE.bazel
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ rules_js_dependencies()
 load("@rules_nodejs//nodejs:repositories.bzl", "nodejs_register_toolchains")
 nodejs_register_toolchains(
     name = "nodejs", # Default name used by most tools.
-    node_version = "16.10.0",
+    use_nvmrc = "//:.nvmrc",
 )
 
 # Install NPM packages from the lockfile.
diff --git a/examples/external/.nvmrc b/examples/external/.nvmrc
new file mode 120000
index 00000000..15bb0fb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/external/.nvmrc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../../.nvmrc
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/external/WORKSPACE.bazel b/examples/external/WORKSPACE.bazel
index e560df78..6bb5e7fd 100644
--- a/examples/external/WORKSPACE.bazel
+++ b/examples/external/WORKSPACE.bazel
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ rules_js_dependencies()
 load("@rules_nodejs//nodejs:repositories.bzl", "nodejs_register_toolchains")
 nodejs_register_toolchains(
     name = "nodejs",
-    node_version = "16.10.0",
+    use_nvmrc = "//:.nvmrc",
 )
 
 load("@aspect_rules_js//npm:npm_import.bzl", "npm_translate_lock")