diff --git a/changelog/59520.fixed.md b/changelog/59520.fixed.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6eb4a9d75ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/59520.fixed.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Set NO_UPDATE_NOTIFIER=1 for the npm version check so the npm module no longer stalls at load time behind a firewall/proxy
diff --git a/salt/modules/npm.py b/salt/modules/npm.py
index f7a40043de4..84878458563 100644
--- a/salt/modules/npm.py
+++ b/salt/modules/npm.py
@@ -47,7 +47,15 @@ def _check_valid_version():
     npm_path = salt.utils.path.which("npm")
 
     # pylint: disable=no-member
-    res = salt.modules.cmdmod.run(f"{npm_path} --version", output_loglevel="quiet")
+    # NO_UPDATE_NOTIFIER stops npm from contacting the registry to check for
+    # updates. Since this runs at module-load time from __virtual__, a blocked
+    # registry (e.g. behind a corporate firewall/proxy) would otherwise stall
+    # every salt-call for minutes while npm's update-notifier times out.
+    res = salt.modules.cmdmod.run(
+        f"{npm_path} --version",
+        output_loglevel="quiet",
+        env={"NO_UPDATE_NOTIFIER": "1"},
+    )
     npm_version = Version(res)
     valid_version = Version("1.2")
     # pylint: enable=no-member
diff --git a/tests/pytests/unit/modules/test_npm.py b/tests/pytests/unit/modules/test_npm.py
index 53243964953..d3db845be99 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/unit/modules/test_npm.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/unit/modules/test_npm.py
@@ -196,3 +196,54 @@ def test_cache_path():
     )
     with patch.dict(npm.__salt__, {"cmd.run_all": mock}):
         assert npm.cache_path() == "/User/salt/.npm"
+
+
+# '_check_valid_version' function tests: 3
+
+
+def test_check_valid_version_disables_update_notifier_59520():
+    """
+    _check_valid_version runs at module-load from __virtual__. It must pass
+    NO_UPDATE_NOTIFIER=1 to the `npm --version` call so npm does not contact
+    the registry (which stalls for minutes behind a firewall/proxy). It calls
+    the module-level import salt.modules.cmdmod.run directly, so patch that,
+    not __salt__["cmd.run_all"].
+    """
+    mock_run = MagicMock(return_value="6.14.0")
+    with (
+        patch("salt.utils.path.which", MagicMock(return_value="/usr/bin/npm")),
+        patch("salt.modules.cmdmod.run", mock_run),
+    ):
+        npm._check_valid_version()
+    mock_run.assert_called_once_with(
+        "/usr/bin/npm --version",
+        output_loglevel="quiet",
+        env={"NO_UPDATE_NOTIFIER": "1"},
+    )
+
+
+def test_check_valid_version_raises_on_old_npm_59520():
+    """
+    Inverse / must-not-regress: adding the env kwarg is purely additive and
+    must not disturb the version gate. An npm older than 1.2 must still raise
+    CommandExecutionError. This passes with and without the fix.
+    """
+    mock_run = MagicMock(return_value="1.1.0")
+    with (
+        patch("salt.utils.path.which", MagicMock(return_value="/usr/bin/npm")),
+        patch("salt.modules.cmdmod.run", mock_run),
+    ):
+        pytest.raises(CommandExecutionError, npm._check_valid_version)
+
+
+def test_check_valid_version_accepts_recent_npm_59520():
+    """
+    Peripheral coverage: an npm at or above the minimum version returns without
+    raising.
+    """
+    mock_run = MagicMock(return_value="1.2")
+    with (
+        patch("salt.utils.path.which", MagicMock(return_value="/usr/bin/npm")),
+        patch("salt.modules.cmdmod.run", mock_run),
+    ):
+        assert npm._check_valid_version() is None