diff --git a/lib/modules/webserver/server.js b/lib/modules/webserver/server.js
index 340f5307c..c0d8d94f9 100644
--- a/lib/modules/webserver/server.js
+++ b/lib/modules/webserver/server.js
@@ -1,9 +1,15 @@
 let finalhandler = require('finalhandler');
+const fs = require('../../core/fs.js');
 let http = require('http');
 let serveStatic = require('serve-static');
 const {canonicalHost, defaultHost, dockerHostSwap} = require('../../utils/host');
+const utils = require('../../utils/utils.js');
 require('http-shutdown').extend();
 
+require('ejs');
+const embark_building_placeholder = require('../code_generator/code_templates/embark-building-placeholder.html.ejs');
+
+let isFirstStart = true;
 class Server {
   constructor(options) {
     this.dist = options.dist || 'dist/';
@@ -24,6 +30,12 @@ class Server {
       serve(req, res, finalhandler(req, res));
     }).withShutdown();
 
+    if (isFirstStart) {
+      const html = embark_building_placeholder({buildingMsg: __('Embark is building, please wait...')});
+      fs.mkdirpSync(this.dist); // create dist/ folder if not already exists
+      fs.writeFileSync(utils.joinPath(this.dist, 'index.html'), html);
+      isFirstStart = false;
+    }
 
     this.server.listen(this.port, this.hostname, () => {
       this.port = this.server.address().port;