diff --git a/phpcs.xml.dist b/phpcs.xml.dist
index 7457e0b6..3249f88e 100644
--- a/phpcs.xml.dist
+++ b/phpcs.xml.dist
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 	<exclude-pattern>tests/bootstrap.php</exclude-pattern>
 	<exclude-pattern>vendor/*</exclude-pattern>
 	<exclude-pattern>wordpress/*</exclude-pattern>
-	<exclude-pattern>wp-content/*</exclude-pattern>
+	<exclude-pattern type="relative">^wp-content/*</exclude-pattern>
 
 	<rule ref="PronamicWP">
 		<exclude name="Squiz.Commenting.FileComment.Missing">src/readme-txt/changelog.php</exclude>