diff --git a/packages/vite/src/executors/test/vitest.impl.ts b/packages/vite/src/executors/test/vitest.impl.ts
index 898e49a52bdeb..302c23a609cb9 100644
--- a/packages/vite/src/executors/test/vitest.impl.ts
+++ b/packages/vite/src/executors/test/vitest.impl.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,10 @@ export async function* vitestExecutor(
   }
 
   // vitest sets the exitCode in case of exception without notifying reporters
-  if (process.exitCode === undefined) {
+  if (
+    process.exitCode === undefined ||
+    (watch && ctx.state.getFiles().length > 0)
+  ) {
     for await (const report of nxReporter) {
       // vitest sets the exitCode = 1 when code coverage isn't met
       hasErrors =