diff --git a/config/environments/development.rb b/config/environments/development.rb
index 57c8b2a96ec..dd225cf9907 100644
--- a/config/environments/development.rb
+++ b/config/environments/development.rb
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ Discourse::Application.configure do
 
   config.assets.debug = true
 
+  # Raise an error on page load if there are pending migrations
+  config.active_record.migration_error = :page_load
   config.watchable_dirs['lib'] = [:rb]
 
   config.sass.debug_info = false