diff --git a/server/build_resolver.go b/server/build_resolver.go
index 23c57808..c9686fea 100644
--- a/server/build_resolver.go
+++ b/server/build_resolver.go
@@ -615,10 +615,6 @@ func (ctx *BuildContext) resolveExternalModule(specifier string, kind api.Resolv
 		return specifier, nil
 	}
 
-	if ctx.externalAll {
-		return specifier, nil
-	}
-
 	defer func() {
 		if err == nil && !withTypeJSON {
 			resolvedPathFull := resolvedPath
@@ -641,6 +637,12 @@ func (ctx *BuildContext) resolveExternalModule(specifier string, kind api.Resolv
 		}
 	}()
 
+	// check `?external`
+	if ctx.externalAll || ctx.args.external.Has(toPackageName(specifier)) {
+		resolvedPath = specifier
+		return
+	}
+
 	// if  it's the main entry of current package
 	if pkgJson := ctx.pkgJson; specifier == pkgJson.Name || specifier == pkgJson.PkgName {
 		resolvedPath = ctx.getImportPath(EsmPath{
@@ -664,12 +666,6 @@ func (ctx *BuildContext) resolveExternalModule(specifier string, kind api.Resolv
 		return
 	}
 
-	// check `?external`
-	if ctx.externalAll || ctx.args.external.Has(toPackageName(specifier)) {
-		resolvedPath = specifier
-		return
-	}
-
 	// if it's a sub-module of current package
 	if strings.HasPrefix(specifier, ctx.pkgJson.Name+"/") {
 		subPath := strings.TrimPrefix(specifier, ctx.pkgJson.Name+"/")
diff --git a/test/build-args/external.test.ts b/test/build-args/external.test.ts
index 182417a8..dc3b927a 100644
--- a/test/build-args/external.test.ts
+++ b/test/build-args/external.test.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,49 @@ Deno.test("`?external` query", async () => {
     const res = await fetch("http://localhost:8080/*preact@10.23.2/denonext/hooks.mjs");
     assertStringIncludes(await res.text(), 'from"preact"');
   }
+  {
+    // ?external=react
+    const res = await fetch("http://localhost:8080/react-dom@19.0.0/X-ZXJlYWN0/es2022/client.mjs");
+    const code = await res.text();
+    assertStringIncludes(code, 'from"react"');
+    assertStringIncludes(code, 'from"/react-dom@');
+    assertStringIncludes(code, 'from"/scheduler@');
+  }
+  {
+    // ?external=react,react-dom
+    const res = await fetch("http://localhost:8080/react-dom@19.0.0/X-ZXJlYWN0LHJlYWN0LWRvbQ/es2022/client.mjs");
+    const code = await res.text();
+    assertStringIncludes(code, 'from"react"');
+    assertStringIncludes(code, 'from"react-dom"');
+    assertStringIncludes(code, 'from"/scheduler@');
+  }
+  {
+    // ?external=react,react-dom,scheduler
+    const res = await fetch("http://localhost:8080/react-dom@19.0.0/X-ZXJlYWN0LHJlYWN0LWRvbSxzY2hlZHVsZXI/es2022/client.mjs");
+    const code = await res.text();
+    assertStringIncludes(code, 'from"react"');
+    assertStringIncludes(code, 'from"react-dom"');
+    assertStringIncludes(code, 'from"scheduler"');
+  }
+  {
+    const res = await fetch("http://localhost:8080/*react-dom@19.0.0/es2022/client.mjs");
+    const code = await res.text();
+    assertStringIncludes(code, 'from"react"');
+    assertStringIncludes(code, 'from"react-dom"');
+    assertStringIncludes(code, 'from"scheduler"');
+  }
+  {
+    const res = await fetch("http://localhost:8080/react-dom@19.0.0/client?external=react,react-dom,scheduler");
+    assertStringIncludes(await res.text(), '"/react-dom@19.0.0/X-ZXJlYWN0LHJlYWN0LWRvbSxzY2hlZHVsZXI/denonext/client.mjs"');
+  }
+  {
+    const res = await fetch("http://localhost:8080/react-dom@19.0.0/client?external=react,scheduler,react-dom");
+    assertStringIncludes(await res.text(), '"/react-dom@19.0.0/X-ZXJlYWN0LHJlYWN0LWRvbSxzY2hlZHVsZXI/denonext/client.mjs"');
+  }
+  {
+    const res = await fetch("http://localhost:8080/react-dom@19.0.0/client?external=scheduler,react,react-dom");
+    assertStringIncludes(await res.text(), '"/react-dom@19.0.0/X-ZXJlYWN0LHJlYWN0LWRvbSxzY2hlZHVsZXI/denonext/client.mjs"');
+  }
 });
 
 Deno.test("drop invalid `?external`", async () => {