diff --git a/crates/binding/src/lib.rs b/crates/binding/src/lib.rs
index 90a76dfd7..38242612a 100644
--- a/crates/binding/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/binding/src/lib.rs
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ pub struct BuildParams {
     };
     watch?: {
         ignoredPaths?: string[];
+        nodeModulesRegexes?: string[];
     };
 }"#)]
     pub config: serde_json::Value,
diff --git a/crates/mako/src/config/config.rs b/crates/mako/src/config/config.rs
index 08f38c126..08c815f1b 100644
--- a/crates/mako/src/config/config.rs
+++ b/crates/mako/src/config/config.rs
@@ -445,8 +445,8 @@ pub struct ExperimentalConfig {
 #[derive(Deserialize, Serialize, Debug)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
 pub struct WatchConfig {
-    pub ignore_paths: Vec<String>,
-    pub node_modules_regexes: Vec<String>,
+    pub ignore_paths: Option<Vec<String>>,
+    pub node_modules_regexes: Option<Vec<String>>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Deserialize, Serialize, Debug)]
diff --git a/crates/mako/src/dev/watch.rs b/crates/mako/src/dev/watch.rs
index e1aee98c7..a62fb52d8 100644
--- a/crates/mako/src/dev/watch.rs
+++ b/crates/mako/src/dev/watch.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ impl<'a> Watcher<'a> {
                 .config
                 .watch
                 .node_modules_regexes
+                .clone()
+                .unwrap_or_default()
                 .iter()
                 .map(|s| Regex::new(s).unwrap())
                 .collect::<Vec<Regex>>(),
@@ -125,6 +127,8 @@ impl<'a> Watcher<'a> {
                 .config
                 .watch
                 .ignore_paths
+                .as_deref()
+                .unwrap_or(&[])
                 .iter()
                 .map(|p| p.as_str()),
         );
diff --git a/packages/mako/binding.d.ts b/packages/mako/binding.d.ts
index 2f8916ca1..55598dfd6 100644
--- a/packages/mako/binding.d.ts
+++ b/packages/mako/binding.d.ts
@@ -183,6 +183,7 @@ export interface BuildParams {
     };
     watch?: {
       ignoredPaths?: string[];
+      nodeModulesRegexes?: string[];
     };
   };
   plugins: Array<JsHooks>;