diff --git a/src/core/server/root/index.test.ts b/src/core/server/root/index.test.ts
index 4eba2133dce285..2a31c32f3a42cf 100644
--- a/src/core/server/root/index.test.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/root/index.test.ts
@@ -195,3 +195,19 @@ test('stops services if consequent logger upgrade fails', async () => {
 
   expect(mockConsoleError.mock.calls).toMatchSnapshot();
 });
+
+test(`doesn't create server if config validation fails`, async () => {
+  configService.validateAll.mockImplementation(() => {
+    throw new Error('invalid config');
+  });
+  const ServerMock = jest.fn();
+  jest.doMock('../server', () => ({
+    Server: ServerMock,
+  }));
+  const onShutdown = jest.fn();
+  const root = new Root(config$, env, onShutdown);
+
+  await expect(root.setup()).rejects.toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(`"invalid config"`);
+  expect(ServerMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  expect(onShutdown).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+});
diff --git a/src/core/server/root/index.ts b/src/core/server/root/index.ts
index c8298ff2b7fcc5..19f6bf71202246 100644
--- a/src/core/server/root/index.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/root/index.ts
@@ -57,18 +57,18 @@ export class Root {
   }
 
   public async setup() {
-    const newPlatformPluginDefinitions = await this.discoverPlugins();
-    const schemas = this.getSchemas(newPlatformPluginDefinitions);
+    try {
+      const newPlatformPluginDefinitions = await this.discoverPlugins();
+      const schemas = this.getSchemas(newPlatformPluginDefinitions);
 
-    this.configService = new ConfigService(this.config$, this.env, this.logger, schemas);
+      this.configService = new ConfigService(this.config$, this.env, this.logger, schemas);
 
-    await this.configService.validateAll();
+      await this.configService.validateAll();
 
-    this.server = new Server(this.configService, this.logger, this.env);
+      this.server = new Server(this.configService, this.logger, this.env);
 
-    this.log.debug('setting up root');
+      this.log.debug('setting up root');
 
-    try {
       await this.setupLogging();
       await this.server.setup(newPlatformPluginDefinitions);
     } catch (e) {