diff --git a/packages/vite/src/node/ssr/ssrExternal.ts b/packages/vite/src/node/ssr/ssrExternal.ts
index e26667b314071f..0ba0c62b143044 100644
--- a/packages/vite/src/node/ssr/ssrExternal.ts
+++ b/packages/vite/src/node/ssr/ssrExternal.ts
@@ -130,12 +130,8 @@ function collectExternals(
       debug(`Failed to resolve entries for package "${id}"\n`, e)
       continue
     }
-    // no esm entry but has require entry
-    if (!esmEntry) {
-      ssrExternals.add(id)
-    }
     // trace the dependencies of linked packages
-    else if (!esmEntry.includes('node_modules')) {
+    if (esmEntry && !esmEntry.includes('node_modules')) {
       const pkgPath = resolveFrom(`${id}/package.json`, root)
       depsToTrace.add(path.dirname(pkgPath))
     } else {