diff --git a/packages/vite/src/node/optimizer/scan.ts b/packages/vite/src/node/optimizer/scan.ts
index 740cca24b6a661..590142a13ce276 100644
--- a/packages/vite/src/node/optimizer/scan.ts
+++ b/packages/vite/src/node/optimizer/scan.ts
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ function esbuildScanPlugin(
           filter: /^[\w@][^:]/
         },
         async ({ path: id, importer }) => {
-          if (exclude?.includes(id)) {
+          if (exclude?.some((e) => e === id || id.startsWith(e + '/'))) {
             return externalUnlessEntry({ path: id })
           }
           if (depImports[id]) {