diff --git a/packages/vite/src/node/plugins/css.ts b/packages/vite/src/node/plugins/css.ts
index 1f123e8de1de90..af1f2fd474ef30 100644
--- a/packages/vite/src/node/plugins/css.ts
+++ b/packages/vite/src/node/plugins/css.ts
@@ -942,7 +942,10 @@ function loadPreprocessor(lang: PreprocessLang, root: string): any {
     return loadedPreprocessors[lang]
   }
   try {
-    const resolved = require.resolve(lang, { paths: [root] })
+    // Search for the preprocessor in the root directory first, and fall back
+    // to the default require paths.
+    const fallbackPaths = require.resolve.paths(lang) || []
+    const resolved = require.resolve(lang, { paths: [root, ...fallbackPaths] })
     return (loadedPreprocessors[lang] = require(resolved))
   } catch (e) {
     throw new Error(