diff --git a/packages/core/package.json b/packages/core/package.json
index 7eb1830..d3290ee 100644
--- a/packages/core/package.json
+++ b/packages/core/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "next-ws",
-  "version": "1.0.1-canary.1",
+  "version": "1.0.1-experimental.1",
   "description": "Add support for WebSockets in Next.js 13 app directory",
   "keywords": [
     "next",
diff --git a/packages/core/src/server/utilities/server.ts b/packages/core/src/server/utilities/server.ts
index d056911..598e442 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/server/utilities/server.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/server/utilities/server.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ export const CustomHttpServer = Symbol('NextWS::CustomHttpServer');
  * @returns The HTTP Server instance.
  */
 export function useHttpServer(nextServer: NextNodeServer) {
+  // NextNodeServer is always required, so check for it before attempting to use custom server
+  if (!nextServer || !(nextServer instanceof NextNodeServer)) {
+    Log.error('[next-ws] could not find the NextNodeServer instance');
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
   const existing = Reflect.get(globalThis, CustomHttpServer) as Server;
   if (existing) {
     Log.warnOnce(
@@ -21,11 +27,6 @@ export function useHttpServer(nextServer: NextNodeServer) {
     return existing;
   }
 
-  if (!nextServer || !(nextServer instanceof NextNodeServer)) {
-    Log.error('[next-ws] could not find the NextNodeServer instance');
-    process.exit(1);
-  }
-
   // @ts-expect-error - serverOptions is protected
   const httpServer = nextServer.serverOptions?.httpServer;
   if (!httpServer || !(httpServer instanceof Server)) {