diff --git a/packages/next-intl/src/plugin/createMessagesDeclaration.tsx b/packages/next-intl/src/plugin/createMessagesDeclaration.tsx
index c273a2b13..692097da9 100644
--- a/packages/next-intl/src/plugin/createMessagesDeclaration.tsx
+++ b/packages/next-intl/src/plugin/createMessagesDeclaration.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import fs from 'fs';
 import path from 'path';
 import {throwError} from './utils.js';
+import watchFile from './watchFile.js';
 
 function runOnce(fn: () => void) {
   if (process.env._NEXT_INTL_COMPILE_MESSAGES === '1') {
@@ -40,10 +41,8 @@ export default function createMessagesDeclaration(messagesPath: string) {
 }
 
 function startWatching(messagesPath: string) {
-  const watcher = fs.watch(messagesPath, (eventType) => {
-    if (eventType === 'change') {
-      compileDeclaration(messagesPath, true);
-    }
+  const watcher = watchFile(messagesPath, () => {
+    compileDeclaration(messagesPath, true);
   });
 
   process.on('exit', () => {
diff --git a/packages/next-intl/src/plugin/watchFile.tsx b/packages/next-intl/src/plugin/watchFile.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..744430f89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/next-intl/src/plugin/watchFile.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import fs from 'fs';
+import path from 'path';
+
+/**
+ * Wrapper around `fs.watch` that provides a workaround
+ * for https://github.com/nodejs/node/issues/5039.
+ */
+export default function watchFile(filepath: string, callback: () => void) {
+  const directory = path.dirname(filepath);
+  const filename = path.basename(filepath);
+
+  return fs.watch(
+    directory,
+    {persistent: false, recursive: false},
+    (event, changedFilename) => {
+      if (changedFilename === filename) {
+        callback();
+      }
+    }
+  );
+}