diff --git a/.changeset/lint-on-start.md b/.changeset/lint-on-start.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f8ff0f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/lint-on-start.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"diagnostics-webpack-plugin": major
+---
+
+`lintDirtyModulesOnly` is `lintOnStart`, inverted and defaulting to `true`. It says whether the first compilation lints every file it covers, and a build — which is nothing but a first compilation — now lints whatever it is set to, where `lintDirtyModulesOnly: true` used to leave a build silently unlinted.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b46a898..497ade5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -115,17 +115,23 @@ type context = string;
 
 Base directory for linting. Every relative `files` and `exclude` pattern is resolved against it.
 
-#### `lintDirtyModulesOnly`
+#### `lintOnStart`
 
 - Type:
 
 ```ts
-type lintDirtyModulesOnly = boolean;
+type lintOnStart = boolean;
 ```
 
-- Default: `false`
+- Default: `true`
+
+Whether the first compilation lints every file it covers. Leave it alone and a
+build lints everything while a watch run lints everything once and then only
+what webpack rebuilds.
 
-Lint only changed files, skipping the initial lint on build start.
+Set it to `false` to start a watch run quiet: nothing is linted until you touch
+a file, and only the modules webpack rebuilds are reported. A build is nothing
+but a first compilation, so it lints either way — the option cannot silence one.
 
 ### Shared options
 
@@ -310,7 +316,7 @@ Run with `{ use: "eslint" }`. It lints the files webpack builds, so only the mod
 
 Alongside the shared options you can pass any [ESLint Node.js API option](https://eslint.org/docs/latest/integrate/nodejs-api#-new-eslintoptions) — they are handed to the `ESLint` class as they are. `concurrency` is worth knowing about: it spreads a lint across worker threads, and ESLint warns on the runs where doing so costs more than it saves, so measure your own project rather than turning it on by default.
 
-A rebuild lints only the files webpack rebuilt and reports the rest from the previous run, so `lintDirtyModulesOnly` is only worth setting to skip the first lint entirely.
+A rebuild lints only the files webpack rebuilt and reports the rest from the previous run, so [`lintOnStart`](#lintonstart) is only worth setting to start a watch run quiet.
 
 ### `configType`
 
@@ -439,7 +445,7 @@ module.exports = {
 
 Both plugins become one, and every option they had is still here. What changed is where an option is written and how the four that decided severity are spelled.
 
-**Where an option goes.** `context`, `lintDirtyModulesOnly` and `checks` are the plugin's own and stay at the top level. Everything else is shared: write it at the top level to cover every check, or inside a `checks` entry to cover that one. `configType`, `eslintPath`, `stylelintPath` and `threads` belong to a single check and go in its entry.
+**Where an option goes.** `context`, `lintOnStart` and `checks` are the plugin's own and stay at the top level. Everything else is shared: write it at the top level to cover every check, or inside a `checks` entry to cover that one. `configType`, `eslintPath`, `stylelintPath` and `threads` belong to a single check and go in its entry.
 
 **Severity is one option.** `emitError`, `emitWarning`, `failOnError`, `failOnWarning` and `quiet` are [`reportAs`](#reportas), because reporting a result as a webpack error is what fails the build:
 
@@ -490,7 +496,7 @@ Every option `eslint-webpack-plugin` accepted, and where it is now:
 | `files`                | Unchanged, shared.                                                                                               |
 | `fix`                  | Unchanged, shared.                                                                                               |
 | `formatter`            | Unchanged, shared.                                                                                               |
-| `lintDirtyModulesOnly` | Unchanged, top level. It covers every check and cannot be set per check.                                         |
+| `lintDirtyModulesOnly` | [`lintOnStart`](#lintonstart), inverted: `lintDirtyModulesOnly: true` is `lintOnStart: false`. Top level.        |
 | `outputReport`         | Unchanged, shared. It is still written even when `reportAs` is `false`.                                          |
 | `quiet`                | `reportAs: { warnings: false }`.                                                                                 |
 | `resourceQueryExclude` | Unchanged, shared.                                                                                               |
@@ -528,7 +534,7 @@ Every option `stylelint-webpack-plugin` accepted, and where it is now:
 | `failOnWarning`        | [`reportAs`](#reportas), see the table above.                                                             |
 | `files`                | Unchanged, shared.                                                                                        |
 | `formatter`            | Unchanged, shared.                                                                                        |
-| `lintDirtyModulesOnly` | Unchanged, top level. It covers every check and cannot be set per check.                                  |
+| `lintDirtyModulesOnly` | [`lintOnStart`](#lintonstart), inverted: `lintDirtyModulesOnly: true` is `lintOnStart: false`. Top level. |
 | `outputReport`         | Unchanged, shared. It is still written even when `reportAs` is `false`.                                   |
 | `quiet`                | `reportAs: { warnings: false }`.                                                                          |
 | `stylelintPath`        | Unchanged, in the `stylelint` entry.                                                                      |
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 33df824..b48a0ae 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -104,24 +104,24 @@ class DiagnosticsWebpackPlugin {
       return checks;
     };
 
-    // If `lintDirtyModulesOnly` is disabled,
-    // execute the checks on the build
-    if (!this.options.lintDirtyModulesOnly) {
-      compiler.hooks.run.tapPromise(this.key, (compiler) =>
-        this.run(compiler, getChecks()),
-      );
-    }
+    // A build is nothing but a first compilation, so `lintOnStart` cannot
+    // silence one without silencing the plugin.
+    compiler.hooks.run.tapPromise(this.key, (compiler) =>
+      this.run(compiler, getChecks()),
+    );
 
-    let hasCompilerRunByDirtyModule = this.options.lintDirtyModulesOnly;
+    // A lint integration whose bundler reaches a file only once something
+    // requests it defaults this off; webpack's first build walks all of them.
+    let skipping = !this.options.lintOnStart;
 
     compiler.hooks.watchRun.tapPromise(this.key, (compiler) => {
-      if (!hasCompilerRunByDirtyModule) {
-        return this.run(compiler, getChecks());
-      }
+      if (skipping) {
+        skipping = false;
 
-      hasCompilerRunByDirtyModule = false;
+        return Promise.resolve();
+      }
 
-      return Promise.resolve();
+      return this.run(compiler, getChecks());
     });
   }
 
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ class DiagnosticsWebpackPlugin {
         );
 
         // A module webpack did not rebuild is reported from the last run.
-        if (!this.options.lintDirtyModulesOnly) {
+        if (this.options.lintOnStart) {
           compilation.hooks.stillValidModule.tap(this.key, (module) =>
             addFile(module, false),
           );
diff --git a/src/options.js b/src/options.js
index 6aded71..aebf5ea 100644
--- a/src/options.js
+++ b/src/options.js
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ const PLUGIN_NAME = "Diagnostics Webpack Plugin";
 /**
  * @typedef {object} PluginOptions
  * @property {string=} context a string indicating the root of your files
- * @property {boolean=} lintDirtyModulesOnly lint only changed files, skip linting on start
+ * @property {boolean=} lintOnStart whether the first compilation lints everything
  * @property {CheckEntry[]} checks the checks to run
  */
 
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ const PLUGIN_NAME = "Diagnostics Webpack Plugin";
 /**
  * @typedef {object} NormalizedOptions
  * @property {string=} context a string indicating the root of your files
- * @property {boolean=} lintDirtyModulesOnly lint only changed files, skip linting on start
+ * @property {boolean} lintOnStart whether the first compilation lints everything
  * @property {EnabledCheck[]} checks the checks to run
  */
 
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ function toAdapter(use) {
 function getOptions(pluginOptions) {
   const {
     context,
-    lintDirtyModulesOnly,
+    lintOnStart = true,
     checks: entries = [],
     ...shared
   } = pluginOptions;
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ function getOptions(pluginOptions) {
     return { name: adapter.name, adapter, options };
   });
 
-  return { context, lintDirtyModulesOnly, checks: enabled };
+  return { context, lintOnStart, checks: enabled };
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/options.json b/src/options.json
index ebf6ed9..64870af 100644
--- a/src/options.json
+++ b/src/options.json
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
       "description": "A string indicating the root of your files.",
       "type": "string"
     },
-    "lintDirtyModulesOnly": {
-      "description": "Lint only changed files, skip lint on start.",
+    "lintOnStart": {
+      "description": "Whether the first compilation lints every file it covers. `false` leaves a watch run reporting only the modules webpack rebuilds; a build has nothing but a first compilation, so it always lints.",
       "type": "boolean"
     },
     "checks": {
diff --git a/test/lint-dirty-modules-only.test.js b/test/lint-on-start.test.js
similarity index 70%
rename from test/lint-dirty-modules-only.test.js
rename to test/lint-on-start.test.js
index b123de3..9040f63 100644
--- a/test/lint-dirty-modules-only.test.js
+++ b/test/lint-on-start.test.js
@@ -5,13 +5,9 @@ import { afterEach, describe, it } from "node:test";
 
 import pack from "./utils/pack.js";
 
-const target = join(
-  import.meta.dirname,
-  "fixtures",
-  "lint-dirty-modules-only-entry.js",
-);
+const target = join(import.meta.dirname, "fixtures", "lint-on-start-entry.js");
 
-describe("lint dirty modules only", () => {
+describe("lint on start", () => {
   let watch;
 
   afterEach(() => {
@@ -26,8 +22,8 @@ describe("lint dirty modules only", () => {
 
     // eslint-disable-next-line no-use-before-define
     let next = firstPass;
-    const compiler = pack("lint-dirty-modules-only", {
-      lintDirtyModulesOnly: true,
+    const compiler = pack("lint-on-start", {
+      lintOnStart: false,
     });
     watch = compiler.watch({}, (err, stats) => next(err, stats));
 
@@ -51,4 +47,15 @@ describe("lint dirty modules only", () => {
       writeFileSync(target, "const bar = false;\n");
     }
   });
+
+  it("still lints a build, which is nothing but a start", async () => {
+    writeFileSync(target, "const foo = false\n");
+
+    const stats = await pack("lint-on-start", {
+      lintOnStart: false,
+    }).runAsync();
+
+    assert.strictEqual(stats.hasErrors(), true);
+    assert.match(stats.compilation.errors[0].message, /no-unused-vars/u);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/test/stylelint/fixtures/lint-dirty-modules-only/index.js b/test/stylelint/fixtures/lint-on-start/index.js
similarity index 100%
rename from test/stylelint/fixtures/lint-dirty-modules-only/index.js
rename to test/stylelint/fixtures/lint-on-start/index.js
diff --git a/test/stylelint/lint-dirty-modules-only.test.js b/test/stylelint/lint-on-start.test.js
similarity index 70%
rename from test/stylelint/lint-dirty-modules-only.test.js
rename to test/stylelint/lint-on-start.test.js
index ee4f9b5..8d0916e 100644
--- a/test/stylelint/lint-dirty-modules-only.test.js
+++ b/test/stylelint/lint-on-start.test.js
@@ -5,12 +5,9 @@ import { afterEach, describe, it } from "node:test";
 
 import pack from "./utils/pack.js";
 
-const target = join(
-  import.meta.dirname,
-  "fixtures/lint-dirty-modules-only/test.scss",
-);
+const target = join(import.meta.dirname, "fixtures/lint-on-start/test.scss");
 
-describe("lint dirty modules only", () => {
+describe("lint on start", () => {
   let watch;
 
   afterEach(() => {
@@ -25,8 +22,8 @@ describe("lint dirty modules only", () => {
 
     // eslint-disable-next-line no-use-before-define
     let next = firstPass;
-    const compiler = pack("lint-dirty-modules-only", {
-      lintDirtyModulesOnly: true,
+    const compiler = pack("lint-on-start", {
+      lintOnStart: false,
     });
     watch = compiler.watch({}, (err, stats) => next(err, stats));
 
@@ -51,4 +48,15 @@ describe("lint dirty modules only", () => {
       writeFileSync(target, "#stuff { background: black; }\n");
     }
   });
+
+  it("still lints a build, which is nothing but a start", async () => {
+    writeFileSync(target, "#stuff { background: black; }\n");
+
+    const stats = await pack("lint-on-start", {
+      lintOnStart: false,
+    }).runAsync();
+
+    assert.strictEqual(stats.hasErrors(), true);
+    assert.match(stats.compilation.errors[0].message, /color-named/u);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/test/stylelint/utils/conf.js b/test/stylelint/utils/conf.js
index ef5f265..7fd28d0 100644
--- a/test/stylelint/utils/conf.js
+++ b/test/stylelint/utils/conf.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { join } from "node:path";
 import DiagnosticsPlugin from "../../../src/index.js";
 
 // Options the plugin only accepts next to the check entries, not inside one.
-const PLUGIN_OPTIONS = ["context", "lintDirtyModulesOnly"];
+const PLUGIN_OPTIONS = ["context", "lintOnStart"];
 
 export default (context, pluginConf = {}, webpackConf = {}) => {
   const testDir = join(import.meta.dirname, "..");
diff --git a/test/utils/conf.js b/test/utils/conf.js
index 66e809a..2c05386 100644
--- a/test/utils/conf.js
+++ b/test/utils/conf.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { join } from "node:path";
 import DiagnosticsPlugin from "../../src/index.js";
 
 // Options the plugin only accepts next to the check entries, not inside one.
-const PLUGIN_OPTIONS = ["context", "lintDirtyModulesOnly"];
+const PLUGIN_OPTIONS = ["context", "lintOnStart"];
 
 export default (entry, pluginConf = {}, webpackConf = {}) => {
   const testDir = join(import.meta.dirname, "..");
diff --git a/types/options.d.ts b/types/options.d.ts
index b4fae79..232583b 100644
--- a/types/options.d.ts
+++ b/types/options.d.ts
@@ -80,9 +80,9 @@ export type PluginOptions = {
    */
   context?: string | undefined;
   /**
-   * lint only changed files, skip linting on start
+   * whether the first compilation lints everything
    */
-  lintDirtyModulesOnly?: boolean | undefined;
+  lintOnStart?: boolean | undefined;
   /**
    * the checks to run
    */
@@ -109,9 +109,9 @@ export type NormalizedOptions = {
    */
   context?: string | undefined;
   /**
-   * lint only changed files, skip linting on start
+   * whether the first compilation lints everything
    */
-  lintDirtyModulesOnly?: boolean | undefined;
+  lintOnStart: boolean;
   /**
    * the checks to run
    */