diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a3c8d223..230cd6d1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ See [example folder](example) for a minimal example.
 
 ### Including extra files
 
-All files from `package/include` will be included in the final build file. See [Exclude/Include](https://serverless.com/framework/docs/providers/aws/guide/packaging#exclude--include)
+All files from `package/patterns` will be included in the final build file. See [Patterns](https://serverless.com/framework/docs/providers/aws/guide/packaging#patterns)
 
 ### External Dependencies
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index bd9eb330..7c524b23 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
     "@types/jest": "^26.0.14",
     "@types/node": "^12.12.38",
     "@types/ramda": "^0.27.6",
-    "@types/serverless": "^1.78.18",
+    "@types/serverless": "^1.78.25",
     "@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": "^4.2.0",
     "@typescript-eslint/parser": "^4.2.0",
     "eslint": "^7.9.0",
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index cc61cd1d..4cfc708b 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -172,13 +172,12 @@ export class EsbuildPlugin implements Plugin {
     for (const fnName in this.functions) {
       const fn = this.serverless.service.getFunction(fnName);
       fn.package = fn.package || {
-        exclude: [],
-        include: [],
+        patterns: [],
       };
 
       // Add plugin to excluded packages or an empty array if exclude is undefined
-      fn.package.exclude = [
-        ...new Set([...(fn.package.exclude || []), 'node_modules/serverless-esbuild']),
+      fn.package.patterns = [
+        ...new Set([ ...(fn.package.patterns || []), '!node_modules/serverless-esbuild' ]),
       ];
     }
   }
@@ -216,13 +215,13 @@ export class EsbuildPlugin implements Plugin {
     });
   }
 
-  /** Link or copy extras such as node_modules or package.include definitions */
+  /** Link or copy extras such as node_modules or package.patterns definitions */
   async copyExtras() {
     const { service } = this.serverless;
 
-    // include any "extras" from the "include" section
-    if (service.package.include && service.package.include.length > 0) {
-      const files = await globby(service.package.include);
+    // include any "extras" from the "patterns" section
+    if (service.package.patterns && service.package.patterns.length > 0) {
+      const files = await globby(service.package.patterns);
 
       for (const filename of files) {
         const destFileName = path.resolve(path.join(this.buildDirPath, filename));
@@ -233,7 +232,28 @@ export class EsbuildPlugin implements Plugin {
         }
 
         if (!fs.existsSync(destFileName)) {
-          fs.copySync(path.resolve(filename), path.resolve(path.join(this.buildDirPath, filename)));
+          fs.copySync(path.resolve(filename), destFileName);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    // include any "extras" from the individual function "patterns" section
+    for (const fnName in this.functions) {
+      const fn = this.serverless.service.getFunction(fnName);
+      if (!fn.package?.patterns?.length) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      const files = await globby(fn.package.patterns);
+      for (const filename of files) {
+        const destFileName = path.resolve(path.join(this.buildDirPath, `__only_${fn.name}`, filename));
+        const dirname = path.dirname(destFileName);
+
+        if (!fs.existsSync(dirname)) {
+          fs.mkdirpSync(dirname);
+        }
+
+        if (!fs.existsSync(destFileName)) {
+          fs.copySync(path.resolve(filename), destFileName);
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/pack.ts b/src/pack.ts
index 6ba764c4..4dca3ddf 100644
--- a/src/pack.ts
+++ b/src/pack.ts
@@ -107,10 +107,13 @@ export async function pack(this: EsbuildPlugin) {
       const artifactPath = path.join(this.workDirPath, SERVERLESS_FOLDER, zipName);
 
       // filter files
-      const filesPathList = files.filter(({ rootPath, localPath }) => {
+      const filesPathList = files.filter(({ localPath }) => {
         // exclude non individual files based on file path (and things that look derived, e.g. foo.js => foo.js.map)
         if (excludedFiles.find(p => localPath.startsWith(p))) return false;
 
+        // exclude files that belong to individual functions
+        if (localPath.startsWith('__only_') && !localPath.startsWith(`__only_${name}/`)) return false;
+
         // exclude non whitelisted dependencies
         if (localPath.startsWith('node_modules')) {
           // if no externals is set or if the provider is google, we do not need any files from node_modules
@@ -123,7 +126,9 @@ export async function pack(this: EsbuildPlugin) {
         }
 
         return true;
-      });
+      })
+      // remove prefix from individual function extra files
+      .map(({localPath, ...rest}) => ({ localPath: localPath.replace(`__only_${name}/`, ''), ...rest}));
 
       const startZip = Date.now();
       await zip(artifactPath, filesPathList);