diff --git a/packages/nuxi/src/commands/dev.ts b/packages/nuxi/src/commands/dev.ts
index d4fd7e6f85..2b73fc20b9 100644
--- a/packages/nuxi/src/commands/dev.ts
+++ b/packages/nuxi/src/commands/dev.ts
@@ -134,11 +134,6 @@ export default defineNuxtCommand({
 
         await currentNuxt.ready()
 
-        distWatcher = chokidar.watch(resolve(currentNuxt.options.buildDir, 'dist'), { ignoreInitial: true, depth: 0 })
-        distWatcher.on('unlinkDir', () => {
-          dLoad(true, '.nuxt/dist directory has been removed')
-        })
-
         const unsub = currentNuxt.hooks.hook('restart', async (options) => {
           unsub() // we use this instead of `hookOnce` for Nuxt Bridge support
           if (options?.hard) { return hardRestart() }
@@ -156,6 +151,12 @@ export default defineNuxtCommand({
           writeTypes(currentNuxt).catch(console.error),
           buildNuxt(currentNuxt)
         ])
+
+        distWatcher = chokidar.watch(resolve(currentNuxt.options.buildDir, 'dist'), { ignoreInitial: true, depth: 0 })
+        distWatcher.on('unlinkDir', () => {
+          dLoad(true, '.nuxt/dist directory has been removed')
+        })
+
         currentHandler = toNodeListener(currentNuxt.server.app)
         if (isRestart && args.clear !== false) {
           showBanner()