diff --git a/packages/babel-core/src/config/files/configuration.js b/packages/babel-core/src/config/files/configuration.js
index 3107786cf3d8..a2f07da520e5 100644
--- a/packages/babel-core/src/config/files/configuration.js
+++ b/packages/babel-core/src/config/files/configuration.js
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ const readConfigJS = makeStrongCache(function* readConfigJS(
   }>,
 ): Handler<ConfigFile | null> {
   if (!fs.exists.sync(filepath)) {
-    cache.forever();
+    cache.never();
     return null;
   }