diff --git a/lib/fs.js b/lib/fs.js
index 4862b8cd698018..fc9b630e81208c 100644
--- a/lib/fs.js
+++ b/lib/fs.js
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ function read(fd, buffer, offsetOrOptions, length, position, callback) {
     }
     ({
       offset = 0,
-      length = buffer.byteLength - offset,
+      length = buffer?.byteLength - offset,
       position = null,
     } = params ?? kEmptyObject);
   }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-fs-read.js b/test/parallel/test-fs-read.js
index 2b3dab4f243b90..966185c5138d63 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-fs-read.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-fs-read.js
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ assert.throws(
 
 assert.throws(
   () => fs.read(fd, { buffer: null }, common.mustNotCall()),
-  /TypeError: Cannot read properties of null \(reading 'byteLength'\)/,
+  { code: 'ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE' },
   'throws when options.buffer is null'
 );