diff --git a/Gruntfile.js b/Gruntfile.js
index ab40643d05a80..2e09a71dd0456 100644
--- a/Gruntfile.js
+++ b/Gruntfile.js
@@ -1069,6 +1069,17 @@ module.exports = function(grunt) {
 					'**/*.js',
 					'!**/*.min.js'
 				],
+				// Prevent traversal into these directories during glob expansion.
+				// This is much faster than using negation patterns alone.
+				ignore: [
+					'**/build/**',
+					'**/dist/**',
+					'**/gutenberg/**',
+					'**/node_modules/**',
+					'**/packages/**',
+					'**/test/**',
+					'**/vendor/**'
+				],
 				/*
 				 * Limit JSHint's run to a single specified plugin directory:
 				 *