diff --git a/reflex/config.py b/reflex/config.py
index f3d40dc37..891911ca6 100644
--- a/reflex/config.py
+++ b/reflex/config.py
@@ -615,13 +615,13 @@ class Config(Base):
     loglevel: constants.LogLevel = constants.LogLevel.DEFAULT
 
     # The port to run the frontend on. NOTE: When running in dev mode, the next available port will be used if this is taken.
-    frontend_port: int = constants.DefaultPorts.FRONTEND_PORT
+    frontend_port: int | None = None
 
     # The path to run the frontend on. For example, "/app" will run the frontend on http://localhost:3000/app
     frontend_path: str = ""
 
     # The port to run the backend on. NOTE: When running in dev mode, the next available port will be used if this is taken.
-    backend_port: int = constants.DefaultPorts.BACKEND_PORT
+    backend_port: int | None = None
 
     # The backend url the frontend will connect to. This must be updated if the backend is hosted elsewhere, or in production.
     api_url: str = f"http://localhost:{backend_port}"
diff --git a/reflex/reflex.py b/reflex/reflex.py
index 70aa16a05..340fdfd71 100644
--- a/reflex/reflex.py
+++ b/reflex/reflex.py
@@ -127,8 +127,8 @@ def _run(
     env: constants.Env = constants.Env.DEV,
     frontend: bool = True,
     backend: bool = True,
-    frontend_port: int = config.frontend_port,
-    backend_port: int = config.backend_port,
+    frontend_port: int | None = None,
+    backend_port: int | None = None,
     backend_host: str = config.backend_host,
     loglevel: constants.LogLevel = config.loglevel,
 ):
@@ -161,17 +161,28 @@ def _run(
 
     # Find the next available open port if applicable.
     if frontend:
+        autoswitch_frontend = not bool(frontend_port or config.frontend_port)
         frontend_port = processes.handle_port(
             "frontend",
-            frontend_port,
-            constants.DefaultPorts.FRONTEND_PORT,
+            (
+                frontend_port
+                or config.frontend_port
+                or constants.DefaultPorts.FRONTEND_PORT
+            ),
+            autoswitch=autoswitch_frontend,
         )
 
     if backend:
+        autoswitch_backend = not bool(backend_port or config.backend_port)
+
         backend_port = processes.handle_port(
             "backend",
-            backend_port,
-            constants.DefaultPorts.BACKEND_PORT,
+            (
+                backend_port
+                or config.backend_port
+                or constants.DefaultPorts.BACKEND_PORT
+            ),
+            autoswitch=autoswitch_backend,
         )
 
     # Apply the new ports to the config.
@@ -249,7 +260,7 @@ def _run(
     # Start the frontend and backend.
     with processes.run_concurrently_context(*commands):
         # In dev mode, run the backend on the main thread.
-        if backend and env == constants.Env.DEV:
+        if backend and backend_port and env == constants.Env.DEV:
             backend_cmd(
                 backend_host, int(backend_port), loglevel.subprocess_level(), frontend
             )
diff --git a/reflex/utils/processes.py b/reflex/utils/processes.py
index c92fb7d1a..c7a90320b 100644
--- a/reflex/utils/processes.py
+++ b/reflex/utils/processes.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def change_port(port: int, _type: str) -> int:
     return new_port
 
 
-def handle_port(service_name: str, port: int, default_port: int) -> int:
+def handle_port(service_name: str, port: int, autoswitch: bool) -> int:
     """Change port if the specified port is in use and is not explicitly specified as a CLI arg or config arg.
     otherwise tell the user the port is in use and exit the app.
 
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def handle_port(service_name: str, port: int, default_port: int) -> int:
     Args:
         service_name: The frontend or backend.
         port: The provided port.
-        default_port: The default port number associated with the specified service.
+        autoswitch: Whether to automatically switch the port.
 
     Returns:
         The port to run the service on.
@@ -134,13 +134,13 @@ def handle_port(service_name: str, port: int, default_port: int) -> int:
     Raises:
         Exit:when the port is in use.
     """
-    if is_process_on_port(port):
-        if port == int(default_port):
-            return change_port(port, service_name)
-        else:
-            console.error(f"{service_name.capitalize()} port: {port} is already in use")
-            raise typer.Exit()
-    return port
+    if not is_process_on_port(port):
+        return port
+    if autoswitch:
+        return change_port(port, service_name)
+    else:
+        console.error(f"{service_name.capitalize()} port: {port} is already in use")
+        raise typer.Exit()
 
 
 def new_process(