diff --git a/lib/core/src/client/preview/start.js b/lib/core/src/client/preview/start.js
index 444eee567a8d..f8dcf13e863c 100644
--- a/lib/core/src/client/preview/start.js
+++ b/lib/core/src/client/preview/start.js
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ function matches(storyKey, arrayOrRegex) {
 
 export function isExportStory(key, { includeStories, excludeStories }) {
   return (
+    // https://babeljs.io/docs/en/babel-plugin-transform-modules-commonjs
+    key !== '__esModule' &&
     (!includeStories || matches(key, includeStories)) &&
     (!excludeStories || !matches(key, excludeStories))
   );
diff --git a/lib/core/src/client/preview/start.test.js b/lib/core/src/client/preview/start.test.js
index 074ebcda5bca..75bfe4a4596c 100644
--- a/lib/core/src/client/preview/start.test.js
+++ b/lib/core/src/client/preview/start.test.js
@@ -144,6 +144,10 @@ describe('STORY_INIT', () => {
 });
 
 describe('story filters for module exports', () => {
+  it('should exclude __esModule', () => {
+    expect(isExportStory('__esModule', {})).toBeFalsy();
+  });
+
   it('should include all stories when there are no filters', () => {
     expect(isExportStory('a', {})).toBeTruthy();
   });