diff --git a/packages/vite/src/node/plugins/define.ts b/packages/vite/src/node/plugins/define.ts
index 7fb153a0653c2d..eee640e5890ab5 100644
--- a/packages/vite/src/node/plugins/define.ts
+++ b/packages/vite/src/node/plugins/define.ts
@@ -110,6 +110,11 @@ export function definePlugin(config: ResolvedConfig): Plugin {
         return
       }
 
+      const [replacements, pattern] = ssr ? ssrPattern : defaultPattern
+      if (!pattern) {
+        return null
+      }
+
       if (
         // exclude html, css and static assets for performance
         isHTMLRequest(id) ||
@@ -120,12 +125,6 @@ export function definePlugin(config: ResolvedConfig): Plugin {
         return
       }
 
-      const [replacements, pattern] = ssr ? ssrPattern : defaultPattern
-
-      if (!pattern) {
-        return null
-      }
-
       const s = replaceInCode(code, pattern, replacements)
       return s ? transformStableResult(s, id, config) : null
     }