diff --git a/packages/vite/src/node/server/index.ts b/packages/vite/src/node/server/index.ts
index b2632c841ca0ef..35a4fb02a9149a 100644
--- a/packages/vite/src/node/server/index.ts
+++ b/packages/vite/src/node/server/index.ts
@@ -641,14 +641,18 @@ export async function _createServer(
     }
   }
 
+  const normalizedPublicDir = normalizePath(config.publicDir)
+
   const onFileAddUnlink = async (file: string, isUnlink: boolean) => {
     file = normalizePath(file)
     await container.watchChange(file, { event: isUnlink ? 'delete' : 'create' })
 
-    if (publicFiles && config.publicDir && file.startsWith(config.publicDir)) {
-      publicFiles[isUnlink ? 'delete' : 'add'](
-        file.slice(config.publicDir.length),
-      )
+    if (config.publicDir && publicFiles) {
+      if (file.startsWith(normalizedPublicDir)) {
+        publicFiles[isUnlink ? 'delete' : 'add'](
+          file.slice(normalizedPublicDir.length),
+        )
+      }
     }
     await handleFileAddUnlink(file, server, isUnlink)
     await onHMRUpdate(file, true)