diff --git a/lib/monitor/match.js b/lib/monitor/match.js
index 0d5b5467..1c7c4cf2 100644
--- a/lib/monitor/match.js
+++ b/lib/monitor/match.js
@@ -154,6 +154,9 @@ function match(files, monitor, ext) {
     var prefix = s.slice(0, 1);
 
     if (prefix === '!') {
+      if (s.indexOf('!' + cwd) === 0) {
+        return s;
+      }
       return '!**' + (prefix !== path.sep ? path.sep : '') + s.slice(1);
     }
 
diff --git a/lib/monitor/watch.js b/lib/monitor/watch.js
index 13b63b7a..a9618256 100644
--- a/lib/monitor/watch.js
+++ b/lib/monitor/watch.js
@@ -41,7 +41,12 @@ function watch() {
 
   const promise = new Promise(function (resolve) {
     const dotFilePattern = /[/\\]\./;
-    var ignored = Array.from(rootIgnored);
+    var ignored = match.rulesToMonitor(
+      [], // not needed
+      Array.from(rootIgnored),
+      config
+    ).map(pattern => pattern.slice(1));
+
     const addDotFile = dirs.filter(dir => dir.match(dotFilePattern));
 
     // don't ignore dotfiles if explicitly watched.