diff --git a/packages/runner/src/utils/collect.ts b/packages/runner/src/utils/collect.ts
index 9eeee4267833..f8302e4a034d 100644
--- a/packages/runner/src/utils/collect.ts
+++ b/packages/runner/src/utils/collect.ts
@@ -27,8 +27,11 @@ export function interpretTaskModes(suite: Suite, namePattern?: string | RegExp,
       }
     }
     if (t.type === 'test') {
-      if (namePattern && !getTaskFullName(t).match(namePattern))
-        t.mode = 'skip'
+      if (namePattern) {
+        const taskFullName = getTaskFullName(t);
+        if (taskFullName.match(namePattern) || (' ' + taskFullName).match(namePattern))
+          t.mode = 'skip'
+      }
     }
     else if (t.type === 'suite') {
       if (t.mode === 'skip')