diff --git a/extensions/vertx-http/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/vertx/http/runtime/VertxHttpRecorder.java b/extensions/vertx-http/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/vertx/http/runtime/VertxHttpRecorder.java
index e802519f00101..4de23de77b0d1 100644
--- a/extensions/vertx-http/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/vertx/http/runtime/VertxHttpRecorder.java
+++ b/extensions/vertx-http/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/vertx/http/runtime/VertxHttpRecorder.java
@@ -1375,7 +1375,8 @@ public void handle(AsyncResult<HttpServer> event) {
 
                 private void validateHttpPorts(int httpPort, int httpsPort) {
                     if (httpsPort == httpPort) {
-                        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Both http and https servers started on port " + httpPort);
+                        startFuture
+                                .fail(new IllegalArgumentException("Both http and https servers started on port " + httpPort));
                     }
                 }
             });