diff --git a/packages/vite/src/node/server/index.ts b/packages/vite/src/node/server/index.ts
index 9fe551feb360e4..74c45a57e8fb31 100644
--- a/packages/vite/src/node/server/index.ts
+++ b/packages/vite/src/node/server/index.ts
@@ -683,6 +683,7 @@ export async function createServer(
       initingServer = undefined
       serverInited = true
     })()
+    return initingServer
   }
 
   if (!middlewareMode && httpServer) {