diff --git a/packages/kit/src/vite/build/utils.js b/packages/kit/src/vite/build/utils.js
index 1596701885db..04e120c4d02f 100644
--- a/packages/kit/src/vite/build/utils.js
+++ b/packages/kit/src/vite/build/utils.js
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ export const get_default_config = function ({ config, input, ssr, outDir }) {
 		base: assets_base(config.kit),
 		build: {
 			cssCodeSplit: true,
+			// don't use the default name to avoid collisions with 'static/manifest.json'
 			manifest: 'vite-manifest.json',
 			outDir,
 			polyfillModulePreload: false,
diff --git a/packages/kit/src/vite/index.js b/packages/kit/src/vite/index.js
index 02094db71cf7..1701b77417a6 100644
--- a/packages/kit/src/vite/index.js
+++ b/packages/kit/src/vite/index.js
@@ -428,6 +428,10 @@ function kit() {
 					`See ${colors.bold().cyan('https://kit.svelte.dev/docs/adapters')} to learn how to configure your app to run on the platform of your choosing`
 				);
 			}
+
+			// avoid making the manifest available to users
+			fs.unlinkSync(`${paths.output_dir}/client/${vite_config.build.manifest}`);
+			fs.unlinkSync(`${paths.output_dir}/server/${vite_config.build.manifest}`);
 		},
 
 		/**