diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/file_watcher.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/file_watcher.rb
index 14cac4ae..7cb0567a 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/file_watcher.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/file_watcher.rb
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ module Middleman
         /^bin(\/|$)/,
         /^\.bundle(\/|$)/,
         /^vendor(\/|$)/,
+        /^node_modules(\/|$)/,
         /^\.sass-cache(\/|$)/,
         /^\.cache(\/|$)/,
         /^\.git(\/|$)/,