diff --git a/lib/utils/tar.js b/lib/utils/tar.js
index 31f8bb089ed85..1f978a8029f02 100644
--- a/lib/utils/tar.js
+++ b/lib/utils/tar.js
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ const getContents = async (manifest, tarball) => {
       totalEntries++
       totalEntrySize += entry.size
       const p = entry.path
-      if (p.startsWith('package/node_modules/')) {
+      if (p.startsWith('package/node_modules/') && p !== 'package/node_modules/') {
         const name = p.match(/^package\/node_modules\/((?:@[^/]+\/)?[^/]+)/)[1]
         bundled.add(name)
       }