diff --git a/lib/core/renderer.js b/lib/core/renderer.js
index 9e28ae2ddb..dd0b5ddf8e 100644
--- a/lib/core/renderer.js
+++ b/lib/core/renderer.js
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ export default class Renderer extends Tapable {
     url = url || 'http://localhost:3000'
     const { window } = await jsdom.JSDOM.fromURL(url, options)
     // If Nuxt could not be loaded (error from the server-side)
-    const nuxtExists = window.document.body.innerHTML.includes('window.__NUXT__')
+    const nuxtExists = window.document.body.innerHTML.includes(this.options.render.ssr ? 'window.__NUXT__' : '<div id="__nuxt">')
     /* istanbul ignore if */
     if (!nuxtExists) {
       let error = new Error('Could not load the nuxt app')