diff --git a/packages/client/src/composables/onContentUpdated.ts b/packages/client/src/composables/onContentUpdated.ts
index 90cf68bce1..88903f7feb 100644
--- a/packages/client/src/composables/onContentUpdated.ts
+++ b/packages/client/src/composables/onContentUpdated.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ import type { ContentUpdatedCallback } from '../types/index.js'
  * in the DOM.
  */
 export const onContentUpdated = (fn: ContentUpdatedCallback): void => {
+  // callbacks are only invoked on client side, and components are never
+  // unmounted in ssr, so skip registering to avoid retaining them forever
+  if (__VUEPRESS_SSR__) return
+
   contentUpdatedCallbacks.add(fn)
   onUnmounted(() => {
     contentUpdatedCallbacks.delete(fn)