diff --git a/packages/serve/package.json b/packages/serve/package.json
index ab3821768a5..ab73f8f5126 100644
--- a/packages/serve/package.json
+++ b/packages/serve/package.json
@@ -13,8 +13,12 @@
     "webpack-dev-server": "3.10.3"
   },
   "peerDependencies": {
-    "webpack-cli": "4.x.x",
-    "webpack-dev-server": "3.x.x || 4.x.x"
+    "webpack-cli": "4.x.x"
+  },
+  "peerDependenciesMeta": {
+    "webpack-dev-server": {
+      "optional": true
+    }
   },
   "gitHead": "fb50f766851f500ca12867a2aa9de81fa6e368f9"
 }
diff --git a/packages/serve/src/index.ts b/packages/serve/src/index.ts
index 4fbb646fcf1..852c4fb2b1e 100644
--- a/packages/serve/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/serve/src/index.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import { devServer } from 'webpack-dev-server/bin/cli-flags';
 import WebpackCLI from 'webpack-cli';
 import logger from 'webpack-cli/lib/utils/logger';
 import startDevServer from './startDevServer';
@@ -11,10 +10,16 @@ import startDevServer from './startDevServer';
  * @returns {Function} invokes the devServer API
  */
 export default function serve(...args: string[]): void {
+    let devServerFlags: object[];
+    try {
+        devServerFlags = require('webpack-dev-server/bin/cli-flags').devServer;
+    } catch (err) {
+        throw new Error(`You need to install 'webpack-dev-server' for running 'webpack serve'.\n${err}`);
+    }
     const cli = new WebpackCLI();
     const core = cli.getCoreFlags();
 
-    const parsedDevServerArgs = cli.argParser(devServer, args, true);
+    const parsedDevServerArgs = cli.argParser(devServerFlags, args, true);
     const devServerArgs = parsedDevServerArgs.opts;
     const parsedWebpackArgs = cli.argParser(core, parsedDevServerArgs.unknownArgs, true, process.title);
     const webpackArgs = parsedWebpackArgs.opts;
diff --git a/packages/serve/src/startDevServer.ts b/packages/serve/src/startDevServer.ts
index 8cbe238de76..00142402c5c 100644
--- a/packages/serve/src/startDevServer.ts
+++ b/packages/serve/src/startDevServer.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-import Server from 'webpack-dev-server/lib/Server';
-
 /**
  *
  * Starts the devServer
@@ -10,6 +8,8 @@ import Server from 'webpack-dev-server/lib/Server';
  * @returns {Void}
  */
 export default function startDevServer(compiler, options): void {
+    // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-var-requires
+    const Server = require('webpack-dev-server/lib/Server');
     const firstWpOpt = compiler.compilers ? compiler.compilers[0].options : compiler.options;
     const devServerOptions = firstWpOpt.devServer || {};
 
diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/__tests__/serve/index.js b/packages/webpack-cli/__tests__/serve/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6be02374db1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/__tests__/serve/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+console.log('hello world');
diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/__tests__/serve/serve.test.js b/packages/webpack-cli/__tests__/serve/serve.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..007cff90e95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/__tests__/serve/serve.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+const { runServe } = require('../../../../test/utils/test-utils');
+
+describe('Serve', () => {
+    const isWindows = process.platform === 'win32';
+
+    // TODO fix me on windows
+    if (isWindows) {
+        it('TODO: Fix on windows', () => {
+            expect(true).toBe(true);
+        });
+        return;
+    }
+
+    it('should run with cli', async () => {
+        const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe([], __dirname);
+        expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
+        expect(stdout).not.toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
+        expect(stderr).toHaveLength(0);
+    });
+
+    it('should work with flags', async () => {
+        const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--hot'], __dirname);
+        expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
+        expect(stdout).toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
+        expect(stderr).toHaveLength(0);
+    });
+});
diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/__tests__/serve/webpack.config.js b/packages/webpack-cli/__tests__/serve/webpack.config.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..955bbdd3364
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/__tests__/serve/webpack.config.js
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+module.exports = {
+    mode: 'development',
+    devtool: false,
+};
diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/package.json b/packages/webpack-cli/package.json
index 462b40a767b..dbe3657b7fb 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/package.json
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/package.json
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
     "@webpack-cli/package-utils": "^1.0.1-alpha.4",
     "@webpack-cli/info": "^1.0.1-alpha.4",
     "@webpack-cli/init": "^1.0.1-alpha.5",
+    "@webpack-cli/serve": "^1.0.1-alpha.5",
     "ansi-escapes": "^4.3.1",
     "colorette": "^1.2.1",
     "command-line-usage": "^6.1.0",
diff --git a/test/serve/basic/serve-basic.test.js b/test/serve/basic/serve-basic.test.js
index 2c489313431..67f39c94d36 100644
--- a/test/serve/basic/serve-basic.test.js
+++ b/test/serve/basic/serve-basic.test.js
@@ -19,62 +19,61 @@ describe('basic serve usage', () => {
 
     const isWindows = process.platform === 'win32';
 
+    // TODO fix me on windows
     if (isWindows) {
-        // TODO fix me on windows
-        it('compiles without flags', () => {
+        it('TODO: Fix on windows', () => {
             expect(true).toBe(true);
-
-            console.warn('TODO: fix `serve` test on windows');
-        });
-    } else {
-        it('should respect the --no-color flag', async () => {
-            const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--help', '--no-color'], __dirname);
-            options.enabled = true;
-            expect(stdout).not.toContain(yellow(usageText));
-            expect(stdout).toContain(descriptionText);
-            expect(stderr).toHaveLength(0);
         });
+        return;
+    }
 
-        it('should not invoke info subcommand', async () => {
-            const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--client-log-level', 'info'], testPath);
-            expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
-            expect(stdout).not.toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
-            expect(stderr).toHaveLength(0);
-        });
+    it('should respect the --no-color flag', async () => {
+        const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--help', '--no-color'], __dirname);
+        options.enabled = true;
+        expect(stdout).not.toContain(yellow(usageText));
+        expect(stdout).toContain(descriptionText);
+        expect(stderr).toHaveLength(0);
+    });
 
-        it('compiles without flags', async () => {
-            const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--port', port], testPath);
-            expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
-            expect(stdout).not.toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
-            expect(stderr).toHaveLength(0);
-        });
+    it('should not invoke info subcommand', async () => {
+        const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--client-log-level', 'info'], testPath);
+        expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
+        expect(stdout).not.toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
+        expect(stderr).toHaveLength(0);
+    });
 
-        it('uses hot flag to alter bundle', async () => {
-            const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--port', port, '--hot'], testPath);
-            expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
-            expect(stdout).toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
-            expect(stderr).toHaveLength(0);
-        });
+    it('compiles without flags', async () => {
+        const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--port', port], testPath);
+        expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
+        expect(stdout).not.toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
+        expect(stderr).toHaveLength(0);
+    });
 
-        it('uses no-hot flag', async () => {
-            const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--port', port, '--no-hot'], testPath);
-            expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
-            expect(stdout).not.toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
-            expect(stderr).toHaveLength(0);
-        });
+    it('uses hot flag to alter bundle', async () => {
+        const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--port', port, '--hot'], testPath);
+        expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
+        expect(stdout).toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
+        expect(stderr).toHaveLength(0);
+    });
 
-        it('uses hot flag and progress flag', async () => {
-            const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--port', port, '--hot', '--progress'], testPath);
-            expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
-            expect(stdout).toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
-            // progress flag makes use of stderr
-            expect(stderr).not.toHaveLength(0);
-        });
+    it('uses no-hot flag', async () => {
+        const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--port', port, '--no-hot'], testPath);
+        expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
+        expect(stdout).not.toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
+        expect(stderr).toHaveLength(0);
+    });
 
-        it('throws error on unknown flag', async () => {
-            const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--port', port, '--unknown-flag'], testPath);
-            expect(stdout).toHaveLength(0);
-            expect(stderr).toContain('Unknown argument: --unknown-flag');
-        });
-    }
+    it('uses hot flag and progress flag', async () => {
+        const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--port', port, '--hot', '--progress'], testPath);
+        expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
+        expect(stdout).toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
+        // progress flag makes use of stderr
+        expect(stderr).not.toHaveLength(0);
+    });
+
+    it('throws error on unknown flag', async () => {
+        const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--port', port, '--unknown-flag'], testPath);
+        expect(stdout).toHaveLength(0);
+        expect(stderr).toContain('Unknown argument: --unknown-flag');
+    });
 });
diff --git a/test/serve/with-custom-port/serve-custom-config.test.js b/test/serve/with-custom-port/serve-custom-config.test.js
index 7025374304c..15088616b6a 100644
--- a/test/serve/with-custom-port/serve-custom-config.test.js
+++ b/test/serve/with-custom-port/serve-custom-config.test.js
@@ -15,54 +15,53 @@ describe('serve with devServer in config', () => {
 
     const isWindows = process.platform === 'win32';
 
+    // TODO fix me on windows
     if (isWindows) {
-        // TODO fix me on windows
-        it('compiles without flags', () => {
+        it('TODO: Fix on windows', () => {
             expect(true).toBe(true);
-
-            console.warn('TODO: fix `serve` test on windows');
-        });
-    } else {
-        it('Should pick up the host and port from config', async () => {
-            const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe([], testPath);
-            // Should output the correct bundle file
-            expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
-            expect(stdout).not.toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
-            // Runs at correct host and port
-            expect(stdout).toContain('http://0.0.0.0:1234');
-            expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
         });
+        return;
+    }
 
-        it('Port flag should override the config port', async () => {
-            const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--port', port], testPath);
-            // Should output the correct bundle file
-            expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
-            expect(stdout).not.toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
-            // Runs at correct host and port
-            expect(stdout).toContain(`http://0.0.0.0:${port}`);
-            expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
-        });
+    it('Should pick up the host and port from config', async () => {
+        const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe([], testPath);
+        // Should output the correct bundle file
+        expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
+        expect(stdout).not.toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
+        // Runs at correct host and port
+        expect(stdout).toContain('http://0.0.0.0:1234');
+        expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+    });
 
-        it('Passing hot flag works alongside other server config', async () => {
-            const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--port', port, '--hot'], testPath);
-            // Should output the correct bundle file
-            expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
-            // HMR is being used
-            expect(stdout).toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
-            // Runs at correct host and port
-            expect(stdout).toContain(`http://0.0.0.0:${port}`);
-            expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
-        });
+    it('Port flag should override the config port', async () => {
+        const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--port', port], testPath);
+        // Should output the correct bundle file
+        expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
+        expect(stdout).not.toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
+        // Runs at correct host and port
+        expect(stdout).toContain(`http://0.0.0.0:${port}`);
+        expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+    });
 
-        it('works fine when no-hot flag is passed alongside other server config', async () => {
-            const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--port', port, '--no-hot'], testPath);
-            // Should output the correct bundle file
-            expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
-            // HMR is not being used
-            expect(stdout).not.toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
-            // Runs at correct host and port
-            expect(stdout).toContain(`http://0.0.0.0:${port}`);
-            expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
-        });
-    }
+    it('Passing hot flag works alongside other server config', async () => {
+        const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--port', port, '--hot'], testPath);
+        // Should output the correct bundle file
+        expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
+        // HMR is being used
+        expect(stdout).toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
+        // Runs at correct host and port
+        expect(stdout).toContain(`http://0.0.0.0:${port}`);
+        expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+    });
+
+    it('works fine when no-hot flag is passed alongside other server config', async () => {
+        const { stdout, stderr } = await runServe(['--port', port, '--no-hot'], testPath);
+        // Should output the correct bundle file
+        expect(stdout).toContain('main.js');
+        // HMR is not being used
+        expect(stdout).not.toContain('hot/dev-server.js');
+        // Runs at correct host and port
+        expect(stdout).toContain(`http://0.0.0.0:${port}`);
+        expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+    });
 });