diff --git a/monai/__init__.py b/monai/__init__.py
index 2d6f5dfc37..db13712b35 100644
--- a/monai/__init__.py
+++ b/monai/__init__.py
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ def filter(self, record):
 # *.so files and folder "_C" may not exist when the cpp extensions are not compiled
 excludes = "|".join(
     [
+        "(.*(nvimgcodec_pydicom_plugin)$)",
         "(^(monai.handlers))",
         "(^(monai.bundle))",
         "(^(monai.fl))",
diff --git a/tests/data/test_init_reader.py b/tests/data/test_init_reader.py
index 4cd9ac42c4..240816d7df 100644
--- a/tests/data/test_init_reader.py
+++ b/tests/data/test_init_reader.py
@@ -12,8 +12,11 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import os
+import subprocess
+import sys
 import tempfile
 import unittest
+from importlib.machinery import PathFinder
 
 import numpy as np
 
@@ -65,6 +68,23 @@ def test_load_image(self):
             inst = LoadImaged("image", reader="NvImgCodecPydicomReader")
             self.assertIsInstance(inst, LoadImaged)
 
+    def test_nvimgcodec_not_imported_on_monai_import(self):
+        """Verify importing MONAI does not eagerly load the optional NVIDIA package."""
+        nvidia_spec = PathFinder.find_spec("nvidia")
+        if nvidia_spec is None or nvidia_spec.submodule_search_locations is None:
+            self.skipTest("nvidia.nvimgcodec is not installed")
+
+        nvimgcodec_spec = PathFinder.find_spec("nvimgcodec", nvidia_spec.submodule_search_locations)
+        if nvimgcodec_spec is None:
+            self.skipTest("nvidia.nvimgcodec is not installed")
+
+        code = "import monai, sys; print('nvidia.nvimgcodec' in sys.modules)"
+        result = subprocess.run([sys.executable, "-c", code], capture_output=True, text=True)
+
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr)
+        self.assertEqual(result.stdout.strip(), "False")
+        self.assertEqual(result.stderr, "")
+
     @SkipIfNoModule("nibabel")
     @SkipIfNoModule("cupy")
     @SkipIfNoModule("kvikio")