diff --git a/.changeset/tall-dragons-jump.md b/.changeset/tall-dragons-jump.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2c35eb3fd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/tall-dragons-jump.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/cli': patch
+---
+
+Fixed recursive reloading issues of the backend, caused by unwanted watched files.
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/lib/experimental/startBackendExperimental.ts b/packages/cli/src/lib/experimental/startBackendExperimental.ts
index 578fd1c747..c4271deb3d 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/lib/experimental/startBackendExperimental.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/lib/experimental/startBackendExperimental.ts
@@ -124,9 +124,8 @@ export async function startBackendExperimental(options: BackendServeOptions) {
 
   restart();
 
-  watcher = watch([paths.targetDir], {
+  watcher = watch([], {
     cwd: process.cwd(),
-    ignored: ['**/.*/**', '**/node_modules/**'],
     ignoreInitial: true,
     ignorePermissionErrors: true,
   }).on('all', restart);