diff --git a/packages/vite/plugins/nx-copy-assets.plugin.ts b/packages/vite/plugins/nx-copy-assets.plugin.ts
index 7e785fbd698e5..bcbdd6c273d73 100644
--- a/packages/vite/plugins/nx-copy-assets.plugin.ts
+++ b/packages/vite/plugins/nx-copy-assets.plugin.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { join, relative } from 'node:path';
 import type { Plugin, ResolvedConfig } from 'vite';
-import { joinPathFragments, workspaceRoot } from '@nx/devkit';
+import { isDaemonEnabled, joinPathFragments, workspaceRoot } from '@nx/devkit';
 import { AssetGlob } from '@nx/js/src/utils/assets/assets';
 import { CopyAssetsHandler } from '@nx/js/src/utils/assets/copy-assets-handler';
 
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ export function nxCopyAssetsPlugin(_assets: (string | AssetGlob)[]): Plugin {
   let handler: CopyAssetsHandler;
   let dispose: () => void;
 
+  if (global.NX_GRAPH_CREATION) return;
+
   return {
     name: 'nx-copy-assets-plugin',
     configResolved(_config) {
@@ -32,7 +34,7 @@ export function nxCopyAssetsPlugin(_assets: (string | AssetGlob)[]): Plugin {
         outputDir: join(config.root, config.build.outDir),
         assets,
       });
-      if (this.meta.watchMode) {
+      if (this.meta.watchMode && isDaemonEnabled()) {
         dispose = await handler.watchAndProcessOnAssetChange();
       }
     },