diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e06e41184..4a1c21dce 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ pnpm create waku
 These commands will create an example app that you can use as a
 starting point for your project.
 
-Minimum requirement: Node.js 18.3.0
+Minimum requirement: Node.js 18.16.0
 
 ## Practices
 
diff --git a/packages/waku/package.json b/packages/waku/package.json
index 23389c137..0cf367f36 100644
--- a/packages/waku/package.json
+++ b/packages/waku/package.json
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
   },
   "license": "MIT",
   "engines": {
-    "node": ">=18.3.0"
+    "node": ">=18.16.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@hono/node-server": "^1.3.3",
diff --git a/packages/waku/src/lib/handlers/dev-worker-api.ts b/packages/waku/src/lib/handlers/dev-worker-api.ts
index 302063d5f..da2263955 100644
--- a/packages/waku/src/lib/handlers/dev-worker-api.ts
+++ b/packages/waku/src/lib/handlers/dev-worker-api.ts
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ const getWorker = () => {
                 : ['--experimental-loader', 'waku/node-loader']),
               '--conditions',
               'react-server',
+              'workerd',
             ],
             env: {
               __WAKU_PRIVATE_ENV__: JSON.stringify(
diff --git a/packages/waku/src/lib/handlers/handler-dev.ts b/packages/waku/src/lib/handlers/handler-dev.ts
index 9843e041c..5367a98d0 100644
--- a/packages/waku/src/lib/handlers/handler-dev.ts
+++ b/packages/waku/src/lib/handlers/handler-dev.ts
@@ -63,11 +63,11 @@ export function createHandler<
       },
       server: { middlewareMode: true },
     });
-    const viteServer = await createViteServer(mergedViteConfig);
-    registerReloadCallback((type) => viteServer.ws.send({ type }));
-    registerImportCallback((source) => hotImport(viteServer, source));
-    registerModuleCallback((result) => moduleImport(viteServer, result));
-    return viteServer;
+    const vite = await createViteServer(mergedViteConfig);
+    registerReloadCallback((type) => vite.ws.send({ type }));
+    registerImportCallback((source) => hotImport(vite, source));
+    registerModuleCallback((result) => moduleImport(vite, result));
+    return vite;
   });
 
   const entries = Promise.all([configPromise, vitePromise]).then(