diff --git a/vite.config.ts b/vite.config.ts
index 8e0374f6..da3bf041 100644
--- a/vite.config.ts
+++ b/vite.config.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import { defineConfig, Plugin } from "vite";
 import react from "@vitejs/plugin-react-swc";
 import path from "path";
-import { createServer } from "./server";
 
 // https://vitejs.dev/config/
 export default defineConfig(({ mode }) => ({
@@ -30,10 +29,13 @@ function expressPlugin(): Plugin {
     name: "express-plugin",
     apply: "serve", // Only apply during development (serve mode)
     configureServer(server) {
-      const app = createServer();
-
-      // Add Express app as middleware to Vite dev server
-      server.middlewares.use(app);
+      (async () => {
+        const { createServer } = await import("./server");
+        const app = createServer();
+        server.middlewares.use(app);
+      })().catch((e) => {
+        console.error("Failed to start express middleware:", e);
+      });
     },
   };
 }