diff --git a/errors/failed-to-fetch-devpagesmanifest.md b/errors/failed-to-fetch-devpagesmanifest.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..3a19a0879e71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/errors/failed-to-fetch-devpagesmanifest.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Failed to fetch devPagesManifest
+
+#### Why This Error Occurred
+
+The network request to load `_devPagesManifest.json` did not succeed.
+
+The dev pages manifest file is used by `next/link` to retrieve the list of pages to be (pre-)loaded by Next.js.
+If it fails, Next.js cannot properly navigate and link between pages.
+
+#### Possible Ways to Fix It
+
+- Make sure your browser developer tools, extensions, and any other network tools aren't blocking that request.
+- If you're running your Next.js application through a proxy, nginx, or other network layer, make sure links like `/_next/*` are configured to be allowed.
+
+### Useful Links
+
+- [Original GitHub Issue Thread](https://github.com/vercel/next.js/issues/16874)
+- [GitHub Issue Thread With Reproduction](https://github.com/vercel/next.js/issues/38047)
diff --git a/errors/manifest.json b/errors/manifest.json
index 9bc09eebbd1b..199d52a52bac 100644
--- a/errors/manifest.json
+++ b/errors/manifest.json
@@ -715,6 +715,10 @@
         {
           "title": "invalid-next-config",
           "path": "/errors/invalid-next-config.md"
+        },
+        {
+          "title": "failed-to-fetch-devpagesmanifest",
+          "path": "/errors/failed-to-fetch-devpagesmanifest.md"
         }
       ]
     }
diff --git a/packages/next/client/page-loader.ts b/packages/next/client/page-loader.ts
index 22e6963c4588..5599b3106de4 100644
--- a/packages/next/client/page-loader.ts
+++ b/packages/next/client/page-loader.ts
@@ -58,23 +58,22 @@ export default class PageLoader {
       if (window.__DEV_PAGES_MANIFEST) {
         return window.__DEV_PAGES_MANIFEST.pages
       } else {
-        if (!this.promisedDevPagesManifest) {
-          // TODO: Decide what should happen when fetching fails instead of asserting
-          // @ts-ignore
-          this.promisedDevPagesManifest = fetch(
-            `${this.assetPrefix}/_next/static/development/_devPagesManifest.json`
-          )
-            .then((res) => res.json())
-            .then((manifest: { pages: string[] }) => {
-              window.__DEV_PAGES_MANIFEST = manifest
-              return manifest.pages
-            })
-            .catch((err) => {
-              console.log(`Failed to fetch devPagesManifest`, err)
-            })
-        }
-        // TODO Remove this assertion as this could be undefined
-        return this.promisedDevPagesManifest!
+        this.promisedDevPagesManifest ||= fetch(
+          `${this.assetPrefix}/_next/static/development/_devPagesManifest.json`
+        )
+          .then((res) => res.json())
+          .then((manifest: { pages: string[] }) => {
+            window.__DEV_PAGES_MANIFEST = manifest
+            return manifest.pages
+          })
+          .catch((err) => {
+            console.log(`Failed to fetch devPagesManifest:`, err)
+            throw new Error(
+              `Failed to fetch _devPagesManifest.json. Is something blocking that network request?\n` +
+                'Read more: https://nextjs.org/docs/messages/failed-to-fetch-devpagesmanifest'
+            )
+          })
+        return this.promisedDevPagesManifest
       }
     }
   }