diff --git a/packages/next/client/dev/dev-build-watcher.js b/packages/next/client/dev/dev-build-watcher.js
index 3d3e043eed2cdd2..27a93fc6025df47 100644
--- a/packages/next/client/dev/dev-build-watcher.js
+++ b/packages/next/client/dev/dev-build-watcher.js
@@ -5,21 +5,14 @@ export default function initializeBuildWatcher(
   position = 'bottom-right'
 ) {
   const shadowHost = document.createElement('div')
+  const [verticalProperty, horizontalProperty] = position.split('-')
   shadowHost.id = '__next-build-watcher'
   // Make sure container is fixed and on a high zIndex so it shows
   shadowHost.style.position = 'fixed'
   // Ensure container's position to be top or bottom (default)
-  if (['top-left', 'top-right'].indexOf(position) > -1) {
-    shadowHost.style.top = '10px'
-  } else {
-    shadowHost.style.bottom = '10px'
-  }
+  shadowHost.style[verticalProperty] = '10px'
   // Ensure container's position to be left or right (default)
-  if (['bottom-left', 'top-left'].indexOf(position) > -1) {
-    shadowHost.style.left = '20px'
-  } else {
-    shadowHost.style.right = '20px'
-  }
+  shadowHost.style[horizontalProperty] = '20px'
   shadowHost.style.width = 0
   shadowHost.style.height = 0
   shadowHost.style.zIndex = 99999
@@ -43,7 +36,7 @@ export default function initializeBuildWatcher(
   shadowRoot.appendChild(container)
 
   // CSS
-  const css = createCss(prefix)
+  const css = createCss(prefix, { horizontalProperty, verticalProperty })
   shadowRoot.appendChild(css)
 
   // State
@@ -134,13 +127,13 @@ function createContainer(prefix) {
   return container
 }
 
-function createCss(prefix) {
+function createCss(prefix, { horizontalProperty, verticalProperty }) {
   const css = document.createElement('style')
   css.textContent = `
     #${prefix}container {
       position: absolute;
-      bottom: 10px;
-      right: 30px;
+      ${verticalProperty}: 10px;
+      ${horizontalProperty}: 30px;
 
       border-radius: 3px;
       background: #000;
@@ -158,7 +151,7 @@ function createCss(prefix) {
 
       display: none;
       opacity: 0;
-      transition: opacity 0.1s ease, bottom 0.1s ease;
+      transition: opacity 0.1s ease, ${verticalProperty} 0.1s ease;
       animation: ${prefix}fade-in 0.1s ease-in-out;
     }
 
@@ -167,7 +160,7 @@ function createCss(prefix) {
     }
 
     #${prefix}container.${prefix}building {
-      bottom: 20px;
+      ${verticalProperty}: 20px;
       opacity: 1;
     }
 
@@ -187,11 +180,11 @@ function createCss(prefix) {
 
     @keyframes ${prefix}fade-in {
       from {
-        bottom: 10px;
+        ${verticalProperty}: 10px;
         opacity: 0;
       }
       to {
-        bottom: 20px;
+        ${verticalProperty}: 20px;
         opacity: 1;
       }
     }
diff --git a/packages/next/server/config.ts b/packages/next/server/config.ts
index 27153a073db99af..6a049172c5ae949 100644
--- a/packages/next/server/config.ts
+++ b/packages/next/server/config.ts
@@ -616,6 +616,24 @@ function assignDefaults(userConfig: { [key: string]: any }) {
     result.pageExtensions = pageExtensions
   }
 
+  if (result.devIndicators?.buildActivityPosition) {
+    const { buildActivityPosition } = result.devIndicators
+    const allowedValues = [
+      'top-left',
+      'top-right',
+      'bottom-left',
+      'bottom-right',
+    ]
+
+    if (!allowedValues.includes(buildActivityPosition)) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Invalid "devIndicator.buildActivityPosition" provided, expected one of ${allowedValues.join(
+          ', '
+        )}, received ${buildActivityPosition}`
+      )
+    }
+  }
+
   return result
 }
 
diff --git a/test/integration/build-indicator/test/index.test.js b/test/integration/build-indicator/test/index.test.js
index 56e31eaf32b04da..713451d2faa995c 100644
--- a/test/integration/build-indicator/test/index.test.js
+++ b/test/integration/build-indicator/test/index.test.js
@@ -24,6 +24,37 @@ const installCheckVisible = (browser) => {
 }
 
 describe('Build Activity Indicator', () => {
+  it('should validate buildActivityPosition config', async () => {
+    let stderr = ''
+    const configPath = join(appDir, 'next.config.js')
+    await fs.writeFile(
+      configPath,
+      `
+      module.exports = {
+        devIndicators: {
+          buildActivityPosition: 'ttop-leff'
+        }
+      }
+    `
+    )
+    const app = await launchApp(appDir, await findPort(), {
+      onStderr(msg) {
+        stderr += msg
+      },
+    }).catch((err) => {
+      console.error('got err', err)
+    })
+    await fs.remove(configPath)
+
+    expect(stderr).toContain(
+      `Invalid "devIndicator.buildActivityPosition" provided, expected one of top-left, top-right, bottom-left, bottom-right, received ttop-leff`
+    )
+
+    if (app) {
+      await killApp(app)
+    }
+  })
+
   describe('Enabled', () => {
     beforeAll(async () => {
       await fs.remove(nextConfig)