diff --git a/packages/vite/src/node/cli.ts b/packages/vite/src/node/cli.ts
index df858f403f80c5..aa250cefa25948 100644
--- a/packages/vite/src/node/cli.ts
+++ b/packages/vite/src/node/cli.ts
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ cli
   .command('[root]', 'start dev server') // default command
   .alias('serve') // the command is called 'serve' in Vite's API
   .alias('dev') // alias to align with the script name
-  .option('--host [host]', `[string] specify hostname`)
+  .option('--host [host]', `[string] specify hostname`, { type: [String] })
   .option('--port <port>', `[number] specify port`)
   .option('--https', `[boolean] use TLS + HTTP/2`)
   .option('--open [path]', `[boolean | string] open browser on startup`)