diff --git a/lib/internal/modules/esm/translators.js b/lib/internal/modules/esm/translators.js
index bcd1775bac898e..505beda061ef08 100644
--- a/lib/internal/modules/esm/translators.js
+++ b/lib/internal/modules/esm/translators.js
@@ -61,8 +61,13 @@ async function initCJSParse() {
   } else {
     const { parse, init } =
         require('internal/deps/cjs-module-lexer/dist/lexer');
-    await init();
-    cjsParse = parse;
+    try {
+      await init();
+      cjsParse = parse;
+    }
+    catch {
+      cjsParse = require('internal/deps/cjs-module-lexer/lexer').parse;
+    }
   }
 }