diff --git a/packages/kbn-plugin-helpers/README.md b/packages/kbn-plugin-helpers/README.md
index 2e3eb4a0c35b..c3d3ca0cb98d 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-plugin-helpers/README.md
+++ b/packages/kbn-plugin-helpers/README.md
@@ -31,8 +31,9 @@ $ plugin-helpers help
 
 Plugin Helpers | Kibana
 -------------- | ------
-7.x | 4.6+ (node 6+ only)
-6.x | 4.6+
+8.x | 7.0+
+7.x | 4.6.x to 6.x (node 6+ only)
+6.x | 4.6.x to 6.x
 5.x | 4.x
 
 ## Configuration
diff --git a/packages/kbn-plugin-helpers/tasks/start/start_action.js b/packages/kbn-plugin-helpers/tasks/start/start_action.js
index 674df764631e..2c175ab3d08e 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-plugin-helpers/tasks/start/start_action.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-plugin-helpers/tasks/start/start_action.js
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 const execFileSync = require('child_process').execFileSync;
+const  { join } = require('path');
 
 module.exports = function (plugin, run, options) {
   options = options || {};
 
-  const cmd = (process.platform === 'win32') ? 'bin\\kibana.bat' : 'bin/kibana';
-  let args = ['--dev', '--plugin-path', plugin.root];
+  const cmd = 'node';
+  const script = join('scripts', 'kibana.js');
+  let args = [script, '--dev', '--plugin-path', plugin.root];
 
   if (Array.isArray(plugin.includePlugins)) {
     plugin.includePlugins.forEach((path) => {