diff --git a/packages/angular/build/src/tools/esbuild/angular/compiler-plugin.ts b/packages/angular/build/src/tools/esbuild/angular/compiler-plugin.ts
index e38b43533790..5b764d3bd4f6 100644
--- a/packages/angular/build/src/tools/esbuild/angular/compiler-plugin.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/build/src/tools/esbuild/angular/compiler-plugin.ts
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ export function createCompilerPlugin(
           if (!requiresAngularCompiler(directContents)) {
             return {
               warnings: [createMissingFileDiagnostic(request, args.path, diangosticRoot, false)],
-              contents,
+              contents: directContents,
               loader: 'ts',
               resolveDir: path.dirname(request),
             };