diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 16cf63f53d83..ef34a1a71862 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 - Ensure negative arbitrary `scale` values generate negative values ([#17831](https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/pull/17831))
 - Fix HAML extraction with embedded Ruby ([#17846](https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/pull/17846))
+- Don't scan files for utilities when using `@reference` ([#17836](https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/pull/17836))
 
 ## [4.1.5] - 2025-04-30
 
diff --git a/packages/tailwindcss/src/index.test.ts b/packages/tailwindcss/src/index.test.ts
index 88ea541a13b0..00e73a90b405 100644
--- a/packages/tailwindcss/src/index.test.ts
+++ b/packages/tailwindcss/src/index.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import fs from 'node:fs'
 import path from 'node:path'
 import { describe, expect, it, test } from 'vitest'
-import { compile, Polyfills } from '.'
+import { compile, Features, Polyfills } from '.'
 import type { PluginAPI } from './compat/plugin-api'
 import plugin from './plugin'
 import { compileCss, optimizeCss, run } from './test-utils/run'
@@ -5373,3 +5373,130 @@ describe('`@property` polyfill', async () => {
     `)
   })
 })
+
+describe('feature detection', () => {
+  test('using `@tailwind utilities`', async () => {
+    let compiler = await compile(css`
+      @tailwind utilities;
+    `)
+
+    expect(compiler.features & Features.Utilities).toBeTruthy()
+  })
+
+  test('using `@apply`', async () => {
+    let compiler = await compile(css`
+      .foo {
+        @apply underline;
+      }
+    `)
+
+    expect(compiler.features & Features.AtApply).toBeTruthy()
+  })
+
+  test('using `@import`', async () => {
+    let compiler = await compile(
+      css`
+        @import 'tailwindcss/preflight';
+      `,
+      { loadStylesheet: async (_, base) => ({ base, content: '' }) },
+    )
+
+    expect(compiler.features & Features.AtImport).toBeTruthy()
+  })
+
+  test('using `@reference`', async () => {
+    let compiler = await compile(
+      css`
+        @import 'tailwindcss/preflight';
+      `,
+      { loadStylesheet: async (_, base) => ({ base, content: '' }) },
+    )
+
+    // There's little difference between `@reference` and `@import` on a feature
+    // level as it's just like an import but with side-effect behavior.
+    //
+    // It's really just shorthand for `@import "…" reference;`
+    expect(compiler.features & Features.AtImport).toBeTruthy()
+  })
+
+  test('using `theme(…)`', async () => {
+    let compiler = await compile(
+      css`
+        @theme {
+          --color-red: #f00;
+        }
+
+        .foo {
+          color: theme(--color-red);
+        }
+      `,
+      { loadStylesheet: async (_, base) => ({ base, content: '' }) },
+    )
+
+    expect(compiler.features & Features.ThemeFunction).toBeTruthy()
+  })
+
+  test('using `@plugin`', async () => {
+    let compiler = await compile(
+      css`
+        @plugin "./some-plugin.js";
+      `,
+      { loadModule: async (_, base) => ({ base, module: () => {} }) },
+    )
+
+    expect(compiler.features & Features.JsPluginCompat).toBeTruthy()
+  })
+
+  test('using `@config`', async () => {
+    let compiler = await compile(
+      css`
+        @config "./some-config.js";
+      `,
+      { loadModule: async (_, base) => ({ base, module: {} }) },
+    )
+
+    expect(compiler.features & Features.JsPluginCompat).toBeTruthy()
+  })
+
+  test('using `@variant`', async () => {
+    let compiler = await compile(css`
+      .foo {
+        @variant dark {
+          color: red;
+        }
+      }
+    `)
+
+    expect(compiler.features & Features.Variants).toBeTruthy()
+  })
+
+  test('legacy `@variant` syntax does not trigger the variant feature', async () => {
+    let compiler = await compile(css`
+      @variant dark (&:is(.dark, .dark *));
+    `)
+
+    expect(compiler.features & Features.Variants).toBeFalsy()
+  })
+
+  test('`@tailwind utilities` is ignored inside `@reference`', async () => {
+    let compiler = await compile(
+      css`
+        @reference "tailwindcss/utilities";
+      `,
+      {
+        async loadStylesheet(id, base) {
+          return {
+            base,
+            content: css`
+              @tailwind utilities;
+            `,
+          }
+        },
+      },
+    )
+
+    // We see @tailwind utilities but because of @reference it is ignored
+    expect(compiler.features & Features.AtImport).toBeTruthy()
+    expect(compiler.features & Features.Utilities).toBeFalsy()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/packages/tailwindcss/src/index.ts b/packages/tailwindcss/src/index.ts
index 8d953782f621..e8f34e366327 100644
--- a/packages/tailwindcss/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/tailwindcss/src/index.ts
@@ -162,6 +162,14 @@ async function parseCss(
         return
       }
 
+      // When inside `@reference` we should treat `@tailwind utilities` as if
+      // it wasn't there in the first place. This should also let `build()`
+      // return the cached static AST.
+      if (context.reference) {
+        replaceWith([])
+        return
+      }
+
       let params = segment(node.params, ' ')
       for (let param of params) {
         if (param.startsWith('source(')) {