diff --git a/packages/cli/src/Server.ts b/packages/cli/src/Server.ts
index c636db56f0..2a647abaa7 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/Server.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/Server.ts
@@ -2905,6 +2905,15 @@ export async function start(): Promise<void> {
 				InternalHooksManager.getInstance().onServerStarted(diagnosticInfo, workflow?.createdAt),
 			);
 	});
+
+	server.on('error', (error: Error & { code: string }) => {
+		if (error.code === 'EADDRINUSE') {
+			console.log(
+				`n8n's port ${PORT} is already in use. Do you have another instance of n8n running already?`,
+			);
+			process.exit(1);
+		}
+	});
 }
 
 async function getExecutionsCount(