diff --git a/lib/internal/bootstrap/pre_execution.js b/lib/internal/bootstrap/pre_execution.js
index 1c7fedb0b273dd..5e7095a75f63f5 100644
--- a/lib/internal/bootstrap/pre_execution.js
+++ b/lib/internal/bootstrap/pre_execution.js
@@ -480,16 +480,16 @@ function runMainESM(mainPath) {
   return esmLoader.initializeLoader().then(() => {
     const main = path.isAbsolute(mainPath) ?
       pathToFileURL(mainPath).href : mainPath;
-    return esmLoader.ESMLoader.import(main).catch((e) => {
-      if (hasUncaughtExceptionCaptureCallback()) {
-        process._fatalException(e);
-        return;
-      }
-      internalBinding('errors').triggerUncaughtException(
-        e,
-        true /* fromPromise */
-      );
-    });
+    return esmLoader.ESMLoader.import(main);
+  }).catch((e) => {
+    if (hasUncaughtExceptionCaptureCallback()) {
+      process._fatalException(e);
+      return;
+    }
+    internalBinding('errors').triggerUncaughtException(
+      e,
+      true /* fromPromise */
+    );
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/test/message/esm_loader_not_found.mjs b/test/message/esm_loader_not_found.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..fd6f29ac531507
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/message/esm_loader_not_found.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+// Flags:  --experimental-modules --experimental-loader i-dont-exist
+import '../common/index.mjs';
+console.log('This should not be printed');
diff --git a/test/message/esm_loader_not_found.out b/test/message/esm_loader_not_found.out
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..87161cdff5627c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/message/esm_loader_not_found.out
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+(node:*) ExperimentalWarning: The ESM module loader is experimental.
+(node:*) ExperimentalWarning: --experimental-loader is an experimental feature. This feature could change at any time
+internal/modules/esm/default_resolve.js:*
+  let url = moduleWrapResolve(specifier, parentURL);
+            ^
+
+Error: Cannot find package 'i-dont-exist' imported from *
+    at Loader.resolve [as _resolve] (internal/modules/esm/default_resolve.js:*:*)
+    at Loader.resolve (internal/modules/esm/loader.js:*:*)
+    at Loader.getModuleJob (internal/modules/esm/loader.js:*:*)
+    at Loader.import (internal/modules/esm/loader.js:*:*)
+    at internal/process/esm_loader.js:*:*
+    at Object.initializeLoader (internal/process/esm_loader.js:*:*)
+    at runMainESM (internal/bootstrap/pre_execution.js:*:*)
+    at Function.Module.runMain (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:*:*)
+    at internal/main/run_main_module.js:*:* {
+  code: 'ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND'
+}
diff --git a/test/message/esm_loader_syntax_error.mjs b/test/message/esm_loader_syntax_error.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..7caad4056e08d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/message/esm_loader_syntax_error.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+// Flags:  --experimental-modules --experimental-loader ./test/fixtures/es-module-loaders/syntax-error.mjs
+import '../common/index.mjs';
+console.log('This should not be printed');
diff --git a/test/message/esm_loader_syntax_error.out b/test/message/esm_loader_syntax_error.out
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..9767a9c86c6bc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/message/esm_loader_syntax_error.out
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+(node:*) ExperimentalWarning: The ESM module loader is experimental.
+(node:*) ExperimentalWarning: --experimental-loader is an experimental feature. This feature could change at any time
+file://*/test/fixtures/es-module-loaders/syntax-error.mjs:2
+await async () => 0;
+^^^^^
+
+SyntaxError: Unexpected reserved word
+    at Loader.moduleStrategy (internal/modules/esm/translators.js:*:*)
+    at async link (internal/modules/esm/module_job.js:*:*)