diff --git a/lib/esm-probe.mjs b/lib/esm-probe.mjs
deleted file mode 100644
index 36eb89c50..000000000
--- a/lib/esm-probe.mjs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-// Keep this file in place.
-// It is there to check that ESM dynamic import actually works in the current Node.js version.
diff --git a/lib/worker/subprocess.js b/lib/worker/subprocess.js
index 1f02f054e..b574e1403 100644
--- a/lib/worker/subprocess.js
+++ b/lib/worker/subprocess.js
@@ -6,6 +6,15 @@ require('./ensure-forked'); // eslint-disable-line import/no-unassigned-import
 
 const ipc = require('./ipc');
 
+const supportsESM = async () => {
+	try {
+		await import('data:text/javascript,');
+		return true;
+	} catch {}
+
+	return false;
+};
+
 ipc.send({type: 'ready-for-options'});
 ipc.options.then(async options => {
 	require('./options').set(options);
@@ -134,23 +143,18 @@ ipc.options.then(async options => {
 		return null;
 	}).filter(provider => provider !== null);
 
-	// Lazily determine support since this prints an experimental warning.
-	let supportsESM = async () => {
-		try {
-			await import('../esm-probe.mjs');
-			supportsESM = async () => true;
-		} catch {
-			supportsESM = async () => false;
-		}
-
-		return supportsESM();
-	};
-
 	let requireFn = require;
+	let isESMSupported;
 	const load = async ref => {
 		for (const extension of extensionsToLoadAsModules) {
 			if (ref.endsWith(`.${extension}`)) {
-				if (await supportsESM()) { // eslint-disable-line no-await-in-loop
+				if (typeof isESMSupported !== 'boolean') {
+					// Lazily determine support since this prints an experimental warning.
+					// eslint-disable-next-line no-await-in-loop
+					isESMSupported = await supportsESM();
+				}
+
+				if (isESMSupported) {
 					return import(pathToFileURL(ref));
 				}