diff --git a/bin/npm.ps1 b/bin/npm.ps1
index 04a1fd478ef9d..dc2559adb0e56 100644
--- a/bin/npm.ps1
+++ b/bin/npm.ps1
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ if (Test-Path $NPM_PREFIX_NPM_CLI_JS) {
 
 # Support pipeline input
 if ($MyInvocation.ExpectingInput) {
-  $input | & $NODE_EXE $NPM_CLI_JS $args
+  $input | & $NODE_EXE $NPM_CLI_JS -- $args
 } else {
-  & $NODE_EXE $NPM_CLI_JS $args
+  & $NODE_EXE $NPM_CLI_JS -- $args
 }
 
 exit $LASTEXITCODE
diff --git a/test/bin/windows-shims.js b/test/bin/windows-shims.js
index 71f12dc8e1cdd..83400948ce2b0 100644
--- a/test/bin/windows-shims.js
+++ b/test/bin/windows-shims.js
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ t.test('shim contents', t => {
 
   t.test('pwsh', t => {
     const { diff, letters } = diffFiles(SHIMS['npm.ps1'], SHIMS['npx.ps1'])
-    t.strictSame(diff, [])
+    t.strictSame(diff, ['-- ', '-- '], 'only npm powershell uses -- for verbatim args')
     t.strictSame([...letters], ['M', 'X'], 'all other changes are m->x')
     t.end()
   })