diff --git a/test/async-hooks/test-pipeconnectwrap.js b/test/async-hooks/test-pipeconnectwrap.js
index b57cc63cf59e46..36980f018598f3 100644
--- a/test/async-hooks/test-pipeconnectwrap.js
+++ b/test/async-hooks/test-pipeconnectwrap.js
@@ -8,8 +8,7 @@ const { checkInvocations } = require('./hook-checks');
 const tmpdir = require('../common/tmpdir');
 const net = require('net');
 
-// Spawning messes up `async_hooks` state.
-tmpdir.refresh({ spawn: false });
+tmpdir.refresh();
 
 const hooks = initHooks();
 hooks.enable();
diff --git a/test/async-hooks/test-statwatcher.js b/test/async-hooks/test-statwatcher.js
index 48d7b0b22eedff..0b9302f21cbce5 100644
--- a/test/async-hooks/test-statwatcher.js
+++ b/test/async-hooks/test-statwatcher.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ const path = require('path');
 if (!common.isMainThread)
   common.skip('Worker bootstrapping works differently -> different async IDs');
 
-tmpdir.refresh({ spawn: false });
+tmpdir.refresh();
 
 const file1 = path.join(tmpdir.path, 'file1');
 const file2 = path.join(tmpdir.path, 'file2');
diff --git a/test/common/README.md b/test/common/README.md
index 11827d9743604a..afd054eae1fe34 100644
--- a/test/common/README.md
+++ b/test/common/README.md
@@ -898,11 +898,7 @@ The `tmpdir` module supports the use of a temporary directory for testing.
 
 The realpath of the testing temporary directory.
 
-### refresh(\[opts\])
-
-* `opts` [<Object>][] (optional) Extra options.
-  * `spawn` [<boolean>][] (default: `true`) Indicates that `refresh` is
-    allowed to optionally spawn a subprocess.
+### refresh()
 
 Deletes and recreates the testing temporary directory.
 
diff --git a/test/common/tmpdir.js b/test/common/tmpdir.js
index 0b8465bb22fc73..666953b9b93b87 100644
--- a/test/common/tmpdir.js
+++ b/test/common/tmpdir.js
@@ -1,47 +1,10 @@
 /* eslint-disable node-core/require-common-first, node-core/required-modules */
 'use strict';
 
-const { execSync } = require('child_process');
 const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
-const { debuglog } = require('util');
 const { isMainThread } = require('worker_threads');
 
-const debug = debuglog('test/tmpdir');
-
-function rimrafSync(pathname, { spawn = true } = {}) {
-  const st = (() => {
-    try {
-      return fs.lstatSync(pathname);
-    } catch (e) {
-      if (fs.existsSync(pathname))
-        throw new Error(`Something wonky happened rimrafing ${pathname}`);
-      debug(e);
-    }
-  })();
-
-  // If (!st) then nothing to do.
-  if (!st) {
-    return;
-  }
-
-  // On Windows first try to delegate rmdir to a shell.
-  if (spawn && process.platform === 'win32' && st.isDirectory()) {
-    try {
-      // Try `rmdir` first.
-      execSync(`rmdir /q /s ${pathname}`, { timeout: 1000 });
-    } catch (e) {
-      // Attempt failed. Log and carry on.
-      debug(e);
-    }
-  }
-
-  fs.rmdirSync(pathname, { recursive: true, maxRetries: 5 });
-
-  if (fs.existsSync(pathname))
-    throw new Error(`Unable to rimraf ${pathname}`);
-}
-
 const testRoot = process.env.NODE_TEST_DIR ?
   fs.realpathSync(process.env.NODE_TEST_DIR) : path.resolve(__dirname, '..');
 
@@ -52,8 +15,14 @@ const tmpdirName = '.tmp.' +
 const tmpPath = path.join(testRoot, tmpdirName);
 
 let firstRefresh = true;
-function refresh(opts = {}) {
-  rimrafSync(this.path, opts);
+function refresh() {
+  try {
+    fs.rmdirSync(this.path, { recursive: true });
+  } catch (e) {
+    if (e.code !== 'ENOENT') {
+      throw e;
+    }
+  }
   fs.mkdirSync(this.path);
 
   if (firstRefresh) {
@@ -70,7 +39,7 @@ function onexit() {
     process.chdir(testRoot);
 
   try {
-    rimrafSync(tmpPath, { spawn: false });
+    fs.rmdirSync(tmpPath, { recursive: true });
   } catch (e) {
     console.error('Can\'t clean tmpdir:', tmpPath);