diff --git a/lib/mock/snapshot-agent.js b/lib/mock/snapshot-agent.js
index 31faebc38ca..80280111921 100644
--- a/lib/mock/snapshot-agent.js
+++ b/lib/mock/snapshot-agent.js
@@ -64,7 +64,9 @@ class SnapshotAgent extends MockAgent {
     this[kSnapshotLoaded] = false
 
     // For recording/update mode, we need a real agent to make actual requests
-    if (this[kSnapshotMode] === 'record' || this[kSnapshotMode] === 'update') {
+    // For playback mode, we need a real agent if there are excluded URLs
+    if (this[kSnapshotMode] === 'record' || this[kSnapshotMode] === 'update' ||
+        (this[kSnapshotMode] === 'playback' && opts.excludeUrls && opts.excludeUrls.length > 0)) {
       this[kRealAgent] = new Agent(opts)
     }
 
@@ -80,6 +82,12 @@ class SnapshotAgent extends MockAgent {
     handler = WrapHandler.wrap(handler)
     const mode = this[kSnapshotMode]
 
+    // Check if URL should be excluded (pass through without mocking/recording)
+    if (this[kSnapshotRecorder].isUrlExcluded(opts)) {
+      // Real agent is guaranteed by constructor when excludeUrls is configured
+      return this[kRealAgent].dispatch(opts, handler)
+    }
+
     if (mode === 'playback' || mode === 'update') {
       // Ensure snapshots are loaded
       if (!this[kSnapshotLoaded]) {
diff --git a/lib/mock/snapshot-recorder.js b/lib/mock/snapshot-recorder.js
index e810fe79507..b5d07fae381 100644
--- a/lib/mock/snapshot-recorder.js
+++ b/lib/mock/snapshot-recorder.js
@@ -283,8 +283,7 @@ class SnapshotRecorder {
     }
 
     // Check URL exclusion patterns
-    const url = new URL(requestOpts.path, requestOpts.origin).toString()
-    if (this.#isUrlExcluded(url)) {
+    if (this.isUrlExcluded(requestOpts)) {
       return // Skip recording
     }
 
@@ -330,6 +329,16 @@ class SnapshotRecorder {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Checks if a URL should be excluded from recording/playback
+   * @param {SnapshotRequestOptions} requestOpts - Request options to check
+   * @returns {boolean} - True if URL is excluded
+   */
+  isUrlExcluded (requestOpts) {
+    const url = new URL(requestOpts.path, requestOpts.origin).toString()
+    return this.#isUrlExcluded(url)
+  }
+
   /**
    * Finds a matching snapshot for the given request
    * Returns the appropriate response based on call count for sequential responses
@@ -344,8 +353,7 @@ class SnapshotRecorder {
     }
 
     // Check URL exclusion patterns
-    const url = new URL(requestOpts.path, requestOpts.origin).toString()
-    if (this.#isUrlExcluded(url)) {
+    if (this.isUrlExcluded(requestOpts)) {
       return undefined // Skip playback
     }
 
diff --git a/test/snapshot-testing.js b/test/snapshot-testing.js
index c81620d38ea..10f8439f51e 100644
--- a/test/snapshot-testing.js
+++ b/test/snapshot-testing.js
@@ -1293,6 +1293,63 @@ describe('SnapshotAgent - Filtering', () => {
     assert.strictEqual(snapshots[0].request.method, 'GET',
       'Recorded request should have GET method')
   })
+
+  it('excluded URLs should not error in playback mode', async (t) => {
+    const server = createTestServer((req, res) => {
+      res.writeHead(200, { 'content-type': 'text/plain' })
+      res.end(`Response from ${req.url}`)
+    })
+
+    const { origin } = await setupServer(server)
+    const snapshotPath = createSnapshotPath('exclude-playback-bug')
+
+    setupCleanup(t, { server, snapshotPath })
+
+    // Record mode: record one request, exclude another
+    const recordingAgent = new SnapshotAgent({
+      mode: 'record',
+      snapshotPath,
+      excludeUrls: [`${origin}/excluded`]
+    })
+
+    const originalDispatcher = getGlobalDispatcher()
+    setupCleanup(t, { agent: recordingAgent, originalDispatcher })
+    setGlobalDispatcher(recordingAgent)
+
+    // Request to included endpoint - should be recorded
+    const res1 = await request(`${origin}/included`)
+    await res1.body.text()
+
+    // Request to excluded endpoint - should NOT be recorded
+    const res2 = await request(`${origin}/excluded`)
+    await res2.body.text()
+
+    await recordingAgent.saveSnapshots()
+
+    const recorder = recordingAgent.getRecorder()
+    assert.strictEqual(recorder.size(), 1, 'Should have recorded only the included request')
+
+    // Playback mode: should allow excluded URL to pass through without error
+    const playbackAgent = new SnapshotAgent({
+      mode: 'playback',
+      snapshotPath,
+      excludeUrls: [`${origin}/excluded`]
+    })
+
+    setupCleanup(t, { agent: playbackAgent })
+    setGlobalDispatcher(playbackAgent)
+
+    // This should work - replays from snapshot
+    const res3 = await request(`${origin}/included`)
+    await res3.body.text()
+    assert.strictEqual(res3.statusCode, 200, 'Included request should replay successfully')
+
+    // Excluded URL should pass through to real server
+    const res4 = await request(`${origin}/excluded`)
+    const body4 = await res4.body.text()
+    assert.strictEqual(res4.statusCode, 200, 'Excluded request should pass through to real server')
+    assert.strictEqual(body4, 'Response from /excluded', 'Should get live response from server')
+  })
 })
 
 describe('SnapshotAgent - Close Method', () => {