diff --git a/packages/nuxt/src/core/nitro.ts b/packages/nuxt/src/core/nitro.ts
index 559bbefe3e..25b037ec6c 100644
--- a/packages/nuxt/src/core/nitro.ts
+++ b/packages/nuxt/src/core/nitro.ts
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ export async function initNitro (nuxt: Nuxt) {
         dir: resolve(nuxt.options.buildDir, 'dist/client')
       },
       ...nuxt.options._layers
-        .map(layer => join(layer.config.srcDir, 'public'))
+        .map(layer => join(layer.config.srcDir, layer.config.dir?.public || 'public'))
         .filter(dir => existsSync(dir))
         .map(dir => ({ dir }))
     ],