diff --git a/template/composer.json b/template/composer.json
index 7ce631c1fc..53e5e62240 100644
--- a/template/composer.json
+++ b/template/composer.json
@@ -47,7 +47,9 @@
             "initial": {
                 "sites/default/default.services.yml": "sites/default/services.yml",
                 "sites/default/default.settings.php": "sites/default/settings.php",
-                "sites/development.services.php": "sites/development.services.yml"
+            },
+            "excludes": {
+                "sites/development.services.yml": "sites/development.services.yml"
             }
         },
         "enable-patching": true,