diff --git a/packages/vite/src/node/config.ts b/packages/vite/src/node/config.ts
index bef928f78d69e5..10318f7de16d7a 100644
--- a/packages/vite/src/node/config.ts
+++ b/packages/vite/src/node/config.ts
@@ -268,8 +268,9 @@ export async function resolveConfig(
     allowClearScreen: config.clearScreen
   })
 
-  // user config may provide an alternative mode
-  mode = config.mode || mode
+  // user config may provide an alternative mode. But --mode has a higher prority
+  mode = inlineConfig.mode || config.mode || mode
+  configEnv.mode = mode
 
   // resolve plugins
   const rawUserPlugins = (config.plugins || []).flat().filter((p) => {