diff --git a/prelude/bootstrap.js b/prelude/bootstrap.js
index 034bd153d..585673793 100644
--- a/prelude/bootstrap.js
+++ b/prelude/bootstrap.js
@@ -1879,7 +1879,11 @@ function payloadFileSync(pointer) {
     im = require('internal/module');
     makeRequireFunction = im.makeRequireFunction;
   } else {
-    im = require('internal/modules/cjs/helpers');
+    if (NODE_VERSION_MAJOR <= 18) {
+      im = require('internal/modules/cjs/helpers');
+    } else {
+      im = require('internal/modules/helpers');
+    }
     makeRequireFunction = im.makeRequireFunction;
     // TODO esm modules along with cjs
   }