diff --git a/packages/electrode-archetype-react-app-dev/config/webpack/partial/babel.js b/packages/electrode-archetype-react-app-dev/config/webpack/partial/babel.js
index 3390f4720a..83cf066d89 100644
--- a/packages/electrode-archetype-react-app-dev/config/webpack/partial/babel.js
+++ b/packages/electrode-archetype-react-app-dev/config/webpack/partial/babel.js
@@ -7,15 +7,17 @@ const _ = require("lodash");
 const logger = require("electrode-archetype-react-app/lib/logger");
 
 module.exports = function(options) {
-  // regex \b for word boundaries
-  const babelExcludeRegex = new RegExp(
-    `(node_modules|\\b${Path.join(AppMode.src.client, "vendor")}\\b)`
-  );
+  const clientVendor = Path.join(AppMode.src.client, "vendor/");
+  const babelExclude = x => {
+    if (x.indexOf("/node_modules") >= 0) return true;
+    if (x.indexOf(clientVendor) >= 0) return true;
+    return false;
+  };
 
   const babelLoader = {
     _name: "babel",
     test: /\.jsx?$/,
-    exclude: babelExcludeRegex,
+    exclude: babelExclude,
     use: [
       options.HotModuleReload && "react-hot-loader",
       {