diff --git a/lib/internal/test_runner/test.js b/lib/internal/test_runner/test.js
index 6788f9ea281..2876b3d6664 100644
--- a/lib/internal/test_runner/test.js
+++ b/lib/internal/test_runner/test.js
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ const {
   ArrayPrototypeShift,
   FunctionPrototype,
   Number,
-  ObjectCreate,
   SafeMap,
 } = primordials;
 const { AsyncResource } = require('async_hooks');
@@ -16,7 +15,10 @@ const {
 } = require('internal/errors');
 const { getOptionValue } = require('internal/options');
 const { TapStream } = require('internal/test_runner/tap_stream');
-const { createDeferredPromise } = require('internal/util');
+const {
+  createDeferredPromise,
+  kEmptyObject,
+} = require('internal/util');
 const { isPromise } = require('internal/util/types');
 const { isUint32 } = require('internal/validators');
 const { cpus } = require('os');
@@ -202,7 +204,7 @@ class Test extends AsyncResource {
     }
 
     if (options === null || typeof options !== 'object') {
-      options = ObjectCreate(null);
+      options = kEmptyObject;
     }
 
     let parent = this;