diff --git a/code/lib/core-server/src/presets/common-preset.ts b/code/lib/core-server/src/presets/common-preset.ts
index 39511aef6be4..8d2ac3b7e2d4 100644
--- a/code/lib/core-server/src/presets/common-preset.ts
+++ b/code/lib/core-server/src/presets/common-preset.ts
@@ -225,10 +225,13 @@ export const frameworkOptions = async (
 export const docs = (
   docsOptions: StorybookConfig['docs'],
   { docs: docsMode }: CLIOptions
-): StorybookConfig['docs'] => ({
-  ...docsOptions,
-  docsMode,
-});
+): StorybookConfig['docs'] =>
+  docsOptions && docsMode !== undefined
+    ? {
+        ...docsOptions,
+        docsMode,
+      }
+    : docsOptions;
 
 export const managerHead = async (_: any, options: Options) => {
   const location = join(options.configDir, 'manager-head.html');