appMiddleware in routeRules not working?

routeRules: {
    "/portal": { redirect: START_PAGE_AFTER_LOGIN },
    '/portal/**': { ssr: false },
    '/server/api/admin/**': { appMiddleware: 'mytest' }
},

export default defineNuxtRouteMiddleware(async (to, _from) => {
  console.log('getting in middleware') // <-- the issue: this is never being called
  return false
})

export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
    console.log('getting in API') // <-- getting called
    return { success: true }
})