diff --git a/extensions/vertx-http/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkus/vertx/http/deployment/devmode/HttpRemoteDevClientProvider.java b/extensions/vertx-http/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkus/vertx/http/deployment/devmode/HttpRemoteDevClientProvider.java
index c0c1976a7e975..f9884b031d8d6 100644
--- a/extensions/vertx-http/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkus/vertx/http/deployment/devmode/HttpRemoteDevClientProvider.java
+++ b/extensions/vertx-http/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkus/vertx/http/deployment/devmode/HttpRemoteDevClientProvider.java
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ public Optional<RemoteDevClient> getClient() {
         if (!liveReloadConfig.password.isPresent()) {
             log.warn(
                     "Live reload URL set but no password, remote dev requires a password, set quarkus.live-reload.password on both server and client");
+            return Optional.empty();
         }
         return Optional.of(new HttpRemoteDevClient(liveReloadConfig.url.get(), liveReloadConfig.password.get()));
     }