diff --git a/packages/runner/src/collect.ts b/packages/runner/src/collect.ts
index 74c2d1230095..c30a86220c75 100644
--- a/packages/runner/src/collect.ts
+++ b/packages/runner/src/collect.ts
@@ -77,6 +77,14 @@ export async function collectTests(
 
     calculateSuiteHash(file)
 
+    file.tasks.forEach((task) => {
+      // task.suite refers to the internal default suite object
+      // it should not be reported
+      if (task.suite?.id === '') {
+        delete task.suite
+      }
+    })
+
     const hasOnlyTasks = someTasksAreOnly(file)
     interpretTaskModes(
       file,
@@ -86,13 +94,6 @@ export async function collectTests(
       config.allowOnly,
     )
 
-    file.tasks.forEach((task) => {
-      // task.suite refers to the internal default suite object
-      // it should not be reported
-      if (task.suite?.id === '') {
-        delete task.suite
-      }
-    })
     files.push(file)
   }