diff --git a/packages/nuxt/src/core/builder.ts b/packages/nuxt/src/core/builder.ts
index 6a7c0c2f6de2..c159438c8710 100644
--- a/packages/nuxt/src/core/builder.ts
+++ b/packages/nuxt/src/core/builder.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import chokidar from 'chokidar'
-import { importModule, isIgnored } from '@nuxt/kit'
+import { isIgnored, tryResolveModule } from '@nuxt/kit'
 import { debounce } from 'perfect-debounce'
 import { normalize } from 'pathe'
 import type { Nuxt } from 'nuxt/schema'
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ function watch (nuxt: Nuxt) {
 async function bundle (nuxt: Nuxt) {
   try {
     const { bundle } = typeof nuxt.options.builder === 'string'
-      ? await importModule(nuxt.options.builder, { paths: [nuxt.options.rootDir, nuxt.options.workspaceDir, import.meta.url] })
+      ? await loadBuilder(nuxt, nuxt.options.builder)
       : nuxt.options.builder
 
     return bundle(nuxt)
@@ -78,3 +78,12 @@ async function bundle (nuxt: Nuxt) {
     throw error
   }
 }
+
+async function loadBuilder (nuxt: Nuxt, builder: string) {
+  for (const root of [nuxt.options.rootDir, import.meta.url]) {
+    const builderPath = await tryResolveModule(builder, root)
+    if (builderPath) {
+      return import(builderPath)
+    }
+  }
+}