diff --git a/packages/nx/src/utils/find-matching-projects.ts b/packages/nx/src/utils/find-matching-projects.ts
index 8847480145..7162874e58 100644
--- a/packages/nx/src/utils/find-matching-projects.ts
+++ b/packages/nx/src/utils/find-matching-projects.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ export function findMatchingProjects(
     const exclude = nameOrGlob.startsWith('!');
     const pattern = exclude ? nameOrGlob.substring(1) : nameOrGlob;
 
-    const matchedProjectNames = minimatch.match(projectNames, pattern);
+    const matchedProjectNames =
+      pattern === '*' ? projectNames : minimatch.match(projectNames, pattern);
 
     matchedProjectNames.forEach((matchedProjectName) => {
       if (exclude) {