diff --git a/.cspell.json b/.cspell.json
index 4a7bc2be12..30ba8bbcf0 100644
--- a/.cspell.json
+++ b/.cspell.json
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   "language": "en,en-gb",
   "words": [
     "apos",
+    "beforeunload",
     "camelcase",
     "tapable",
     "sockjs",
diff --git a/client-src/index.js b/client-src/index.js
index eeee5b717e..e8a2ff47c5 100644
--- a/client-src/index.js
+++ b/client-src/index.js
@@ -287,6 +287,7 @@ const overlay =
  */
 const reloadApp = ({ hot, liveReload }, currentStatus) => {
   if (currentStatus.isUnloading) {
+    log.warn("HMR blocked. Please refresh the page.");
     return;
   }
 
diff --git a/examples/client/beforeunload/README.md b/examples/client/beforeunload/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dd9d1bae5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/client/beforeunload/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+# Beforeunload Example
+
+**webpack.config.js**
+
+```js
+module.exports = {
+  devServer: {
+    hot: true,
+    liveReload: true, // Both HMR and Live Reload can be affected
+  },
+};
+```
+
+Usage via CLI:
+
+```console
+npx webpack serve --open
+```
+
+This example demonstrates an issue where webpack-dev-server's `isUnloading` flag gets stuck after canceling the browser's "Leave site?" dialog, blocking both HMR and Live Reload updates.
+
+## What Should Happen
+
+The script should open `http://localhost:8080/` in your default browser.
+
+1. Click **"Add Beforeunload Event"** button
+2. Try to reload the page and click **"Cancel"** in the dialog
+3. Edit `app.js` file to trigger rebuild
+4. **Issue**: Page updates are blocked until manual refresh
+
+## How to Fix
+
+**Manually refresh the page** (F5/Ctrl+R) to restore HMR and Live Reload functionality.
diff --git a/examples/client/beforeunload/app.js b/examples/client/beforeunload/app.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bb0860fba8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/client/beforeunload/app.js
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+"use strict";
+
+const target = document.querySelector("#target");
+
+function beforeunloadHandler(event) {
+  event.preventDefault();
+  event.returnValue = "";
+  return "";
+}
+
+let isEventRegistered = false;
+
+const addEventButton = document.createElement("button");
+addEventButton.textContent = "Add Beforeunload Event";
+addEventButton.style.cssText =
+  "padding: 10px 20px; margin: 10px; font-size: 16px; cursor: pointer; background-color: #28a745; color: white; border: none; border-radius: 4px;";
+addEventButton.addEventListener("click", function () {
+  if (!isEventRegistered) {
+    window.addEventListener("beforeunload", beforeunloadHandler);
+    isEventRegistered = true;
+    updateStatus();
+    console.log("[webpack-dev-server] beforeunload event added");
+  }
+});
+
+const reloadButton = document.createElement("button");
+reloadButton.textContent = "Reload Page";
+reloadButton.style.cssText =
+  "padding: 10px 20px; margin: 10px; font-size: 16px; cursor: pointer; background-color: #007bff; color: white; border: none; border-radius: 4px;";
+reloadButton.addEventListener("click", function () {
+  window.location.reload();
+});
+
+const statusDisplay = document.createElement("div");
+statusDisplay.style.cssText =
+  "margin: 10px; padding: 10px; border: 2px solid #ccc; border-radius: 4px; font-weight: bold;";
+
+function updateStatus() {
+  statusDisplay.textContent = isEventRegistered
+    ? "Status: Beforeunload event is ACTIVE - Page exit will be blocked"
+    : "Status: Beforeunload event is INACTIVE - Page exit will not be blocked";
+  statusDisplay.style.backgroundColor = isEventRegistered
+    ? "#d4edda"
+    : "#f8d7da";
+  statusDisplay.style.borderColor = isEventRegistered ? "#28a745" : "#dc3545";
+}
+
+target.classList.add("pass");
+target.innerHTML = "Beforeunload Event Controller";
+target.appendChild(document.createElement("br"));
+target.appendChild(document.createElement("br"));
+target.appendChild(statusDisplay);
+target.appendChild(document.createElement("br"));
+target.appendChild(addEventButton);
+target.appendChild(reloadButton);
+
+updateStatus();
diff --git a/examples/client/beforeunload/webpack.config.js b/examples/client/beforeunload/webpack.config.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..802f72b24f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/client/beforeunload/webpack.config.js
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+"use strict";
+
+// our setup function adds behind-the-scenes bits to the config that all of our
+// examples need
+const { setup } = require("../../util");
+
+module.exports = setup({
+  context: __dirname,
+  entry: "./app.js",
+  devServer: {
+    hot: true,
+    liveReload: true,
+  },
+});