diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 4940d003374e8..624aac9e5e8da 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 ## v1.42.0
 
+- [application-package] restore src-gen frontend production behavior [12950](https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/pull/12950) - Contributed on behalf of STMicroelectronics
 - [core] fixed logger level propagation when log config file changes at runtime [#12566](https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/pull/12566) - Contributed on behalf of STMicroelectronics
 - [vscode] stub TestController invalidateTestResults [#12944](https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/pull/12944) - Contributed by STMicroelectronics
 - [vscode] support iconPath in QuickPickItem [#12945](https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/pull/12945) - Contributed by STMicroelectronics
diff --git a/dev-packages/application-manager/src/generator/frontend-generator.ts b/dev-packages/application-manager/src/generator/frontend-generator.ts
index 59cccab6e37b7..f329dbec3d923 100644
--- a/dev-packages/application-manager/src/generator/frontend-generator.ts
+++ b/dev-packages/application-manager/src/generator/frontend-generator.ts
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ module.exports = (async () => {
 
     try {
 ${Array.from(frontendModules.values(), jsModulePath => `\
-        await load(container, import('${jsModulePath}'));`).join(EOL)}
+        await load(container, ${this.options.mode !== 'production' ? 'import' : 'require'}('${jsModulePath}'));`).join(EOL)}
         await start();
     } catch (reason) {
         console.error('Failed to start the frontend application.');