diff --git a/src/core/instance/lifecycle.ts b/src/core/instance/lifecycle.ts
index 5c559daaa23..171c4e5d9a5 100644
--- a/src/core/instance/lifecycle.ts
+++ b/src/core/instance/lifecycle.ts
@@ -218,15 +218,17 @@ export function mountComponent(
   )
   hydrating = false
 
+  // flush buffer for flush: "pre" watchers queued in setup()
+  const preWatchers = vm._preWatchers
+  if (preWatchers) {
+    for (let i = 0; i < preWatchers.length; i++) {
+      preWatchers[i].run()
+    }
+  }
+
   // manually mounted instance, call mounted on self
   // mounted is called for render-created child components in its inserted hook
   if (vm.$vnode == null) {
-    const preWatchers = vm._preWatchers
-    if (preWatchers) {
-      for (let i = 0; i < preWatchers.length; i++) {
-        preWatchers[i].run()
-      }
-    }
     vm._isMounted = true
     callHook(vm, 'mounted')
   }
diff --git a/test/unit/features/v3/apiWatch.spec.ts b/test/unit/features/v3/apiWatch.spec.ts
index 9a7bcd9410f..85ee2ef8400 100644
--- a/test/unit/features/v3/apiWatch.spec.ts
+++ b/test/unit/features/v3/apiWatch.spec.ts
@@ -336,6 +336,23 @@ describe('api: watch', () => {
     expect(result2).toBe(true)
   })
 
+  // #12569
+  it('flush:pre watcher triggered before component mount (in child components)', () => {
+    const count = ref(0)
+    const spy = vi.fn()
+    const Comp = {
+      setup() {
+        watch(count, spy)
+        count.value++
+        return h => h('div')
+      }
+    }
+    new Vue({
+      render: h => h(Comp)
+    }).$mount()
+    expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
   it('flush timing: post', async () => {
     const count = ref(0)
     let result