diff --git a/packages/nuxi/src/commands/dev.ts b/packages/nuxi/src/commands/dev.ts
index 00df9bfa6c..d86957e9f7 100644
--- a/packages/nuxi/src/commands/dev.ts
+++ b/packages/nuxi/src/commands/dev.ts
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ export default defineNuxtCommand({
     const dLoad = debounce(load, 250)
     const watcher = chokidar.watch([rootDir], { ignoreInitial: true, depth: 1 })
     watcher.on('all', (_event, file) => {
+      if (!currentNuxt) { return }
       if (file.startsWith(currentNuxt.options.buildDir)) { return }
       if (file.match(/nuxt\.config\.(js|ts|mjs|cjs)$/)) {
         dLoad(true, `${relative(rootDir, file)} updated`)