diff --git a/litestar/middleware/_utils.py b/litestar/middleware/_utils.py
index 6a3cd6aec5..1f7a66ab7c 100644
--- a/litestar/middleware/_utils.py
+++ b/litestar/middleware/_utils.py
@@ -33,9 +33,10 @@ def build_exclude_path_pattern(
 
     try:
         pattern = re.compile("|".join(exclude)) if isinstance(exclude, list) else re.compile(exclude)
-        if pattern.match("/"):
+        if pattern.match("/") and exclude != "^/$":
             warn_middleware_excluded_on_all_routes(pattern, middleware_cls=middleware_cls)
         return pattern
+
     except re.error as e:  # pragma: no cover
         raise ImproperlyConfiguredException(
             "Unable to compile exclude patterns for middleware. Please make sure you passed a valid regular expression."
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_middleware/test_base_middleware.py b/tests/unit/test_middleware/test_base_middleware.py
index 33ab1092f9..b3c403f6e3 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_middleware/test_base_middleware.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_middleware/test_base_middleware.py
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def third_handler() -> dict:
         assert "test" in response.headers
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("excludes", ["/", ["/", "/foo"], "/*"])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("excludes", ["/", ["/", "/foo"], "/*", "/.*"])
 def test_exclude_by_pattern_warns_if_exclude_all(excludes: Union[str, List[str]]) -> None:
     class SubclassMiddleware(AbstractMiddleware):
         exclude = excludes