diff --git a/lib/internal/modules/esm/loader.js b/lib/internal/modules/esm/loader.js
index 17ddcd639c5550..ee3c80689d1106 100644
--- a/lib/internal/modules/esm/loader.js
+++ b/lib/internal/modules/esm/loader.js
@@ -179,15 +179,15 @@ function nextHookFactory(chain, meta, { validateArgs, validateOutput }) {
  */
 class ESMLoader {
   #hooks = {
-    __proto__: null,
     /**
      * Prior to ESM loading. These are called once before any modules are started.
      * @private
      * @property {KeyedHook[]} globalPreload Last-in-first-out list of preload hooks.
      */
     globalPreload: [],
+
     /**
-     * Phase 2 of 2 in ESM loading.
+     * Phase 2 of 2 in ESM loading (phase 2 is below).
      * @private
      * @property {KeyedHook[]} load Last-in-first-out collection of loader hooks.
      */
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ class ESMLoader {
         url: 'node:internal/modules/esm/load',
       },
     ],
+
     /**
      * Phase 1 of 2 in ESM loading.
      * @private
@@ -412,10 +413,10 @@ class ESMLoader {
     if (this.#hooks.load.length !== 1) {
       // We can skip cloning if there are no user-provided loaders because
       // the Node.js default resolve hook does not use import assertions.
-      importAssertionsForResolve = ObjectAssign(
-        { __proto__: null },
-        importAssertions,
-      );
+      importAssertionsForResolve = {
+        __proto__: null,
+        ...importAssertions,
+      };
     }
 
     const { format, url } =