diff --git a/packages/vue-query/src/__tests__/useQuery.test.ts b/packages/vue-query/src/__tests__/useQuery.test.ts
index 8a77d149e5..5309510930 100644
--- a/packages/vue-query/src/__tests__/useQuery.test.ts
+++ b/packages/vue-query/src/__tests__/useQuery.test.ts
@@ -460,6 +460,27 @@ describe('useQuery', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  describe('outside scope warning', () => {
+    test('should warn when used outside of setup function in development mode', () => {
+      vi.stubEnv('NODE_ENV', 'development')
+      const warnSpy = vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {})
+
+      try {
+        useQuery({
+          queryKey: ['outsideScope'],
+          queryFn: () => sleep(0).then(() => 'data'),
+        })
+
+        expect(warnSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+          'vue-query composable like "useQuery()" should only be used inside a "setup()" function or a running effect scope. They might otherwise lead to memory leaks.',
+        )
+      } finally {
+        warnSpy.mockRestore()
+        vi.unstubAllEnvs()
+      }
+    })
+  })
+
   describe('suspense', () => {
     test('should return a Promise', () => {
       const getCurrentInstanceSpy = getCurrentInstance as Mock