diff --git a/dandi/support/bids/validator.py b/dandi/support/bids/validator.py
index f1981f7e6..8c1768d47 100644
--- a/dandi/support/bids/validator.py
+++ b/dandi/support/bids/validator.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ def _get_paths(
                 path_list.append(Path(root).as_posix() + "/")
                 # Do not index the contents of the directory.
                 dirs[:] = []
+                file_names[:] = []
             # will break if BIDS ever puts meaningful data under `/.{dandi,datalad,git}*/`
             if os.path.basename(root) in exclude_subdirs:
                 continue