diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/frontend/pipeline.ts b/packages/compiler/src/frontend/pipeline.ts
index 725ff48cd..1bb34bc3b 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/frontend/pipeline.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/frontend/pipeline.ts
@@ -127,9 +127,10 @@ function addDynamicImportGraph(load: LoadResult, scanned: Set<SourceFile>): void
     const sf = queue.pop()!;
     if (sf.fileName.includes("/node_modules/")) continue;
     const specs: string[] = [];
-    const calls = /\bimport\s*\(/.test(sf.text)
-      ? moduleSourceCandidates(load.program, sf).calls
-      : [];
+    // Every literal import() in the file, read from the syntax: a comment
+    // can stand between the keyword and its parenthesis. A file without
+    // the keyword has none.
+    const calls = sf.text.includes("import") ? moduleSourceCandidates(load.program, sf).calls : [];
     for (const call of calls) {
       const arg = call.arguments.nodes[0];
       if (
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/npm/cases/workspace-dynamic-import/main.ts b/tests/fixtures/npm/cases/workspace-dynamic-import/main.ts
index 59a7b88a9..2068f3c4b 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/npm/cases/workspace-dynamic-import/main.ts
+++ b/tests/fixtures/npm/cases/workspace-dynamic-import/main.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-// A workspace package the program loads on demand through import(): its
+// A workspace package the program loads on demand with a dynamic import: its
 // own npm dependency (installed only in the workspace package's
 // node_modules) compiles with it, although neither is part of the startup
-// module graph.
+// module graph. A comment can stand between `import` and its parenthesis.
 async function main(): Promise<void> {
   console.log("before");
-  const m = await import("wsdynamic");
+  const m = await import /* loaded on demand */ ("wsdynamic");
   console.log(m.greet("world"));
 }
 main();