diff --git a/packages/vite/src/node/server/middlewares/rejectNoCorsRequest.ts b/packages/vite/src/node/server/middlewares/rejectNoCorsRequest.ts
index ebc025aca37cc4..a45de17486399d 100644
--- a/packages/vite/src/node/server/middlewares/rejectNoCorsRequest.ts
+++ b/packages/vite/src/node/server/middlewares/rejectNoCorsRequest.ts
@@ -25,9 +25,15 @@ export function rejectNoCorsRequestMiddleware(): Connect.NextHandleFunction {
       // we only need to block classic script requests
       req.headers['sec-fetch-dest'] === 'script'
     ) {
-      res.statusCode = 403
+      // Send a JavaScript code instead of 403 so that the error is shown in the devtools
+      // If we send 403, the browser will avoid loading the body of the response
+      // and just show "Failed to load" error without the detailed message.
+      res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'text/javascript')
       res.end(
-        'Cross-origin requests for classic scripts must be made with CORS mode enabled. Make sure to set the "crossorigin" attribute on your <script> tag.',
+        `throw new Error(${JSON.stringify(
+          '[Vite] Cross-origin requests for classic scripts must be made with CORS mode enabled.' +
+            ' Make sure to set the "crossorigin" attribute on your <script> tag.',
+        )});`,
       )
       return
     }
diff --git a/playground/fs-serve/__tests__/commonTests.ts b/playground/fs-serve/__tests__/commonTests.ts
index bae6cbf4af1972..b9ab4fae96d388 100644
--- a/playground/fs-serve/__tests__/commonTests.ts
+++ b/playground/fs-serve/__tests__/commonTests.ts
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ test.runIf(isServe)(
           reject(e)
         })
     })
-    expect(res.statusCode).toBe(403)
+    expect(res.statusCode).toBe(200)
     const body = Buffer.concat(await ArrayFromAsync(res)).toString()
     expect(body).toContain(
       'Cross-origin requests for classic scripts must be made with CORS mode enabled.',
@@ -531,6 +531,10 @@ test.runIf(isServe)(
         })
     })
     expect(res.statusCode).not.toBe(403)
+    const body = Buffer.concat(await ArrayFromAsync(res)).toString()
+    expect(body).not.toContain(
+      'Cross-origin requests for classic scripts must be made with CORS mode enabled.',
+    )
   },
 )