diff --git a/packages/@vue/cli-service/lib/commands/serve.js b/packages/@vue/cli-service/lib/commands/serve.js
index 8c97ef02af..57de4484ee 100644
--- a/packages/@vue/cli-service/lib/commands/serve.js
+++ b/packages/@vue/cli-service/lib/commands/serve.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 const {
   info,
+  error,
   hasProjectYarn,
   hasProjectPnpm,
   openBrowser,
@@ -161,6 +162,12 @@ module.exports = (api, options) => {
     // create compiler
     const compiler = webpack(webpackConfig)
 
+    // handle compiler error
+    compiler.hooks.failed.tap('vue-cli-service serve', msg => {
+      error(msg)
+      process.exit(1)
+    })
+
     // create server
     const server = new WebpackDevServer(compiler, Object.assign({
       logLevel: 'silent',