diff --git a/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js b/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
index 5056a698b3b8cd..034938e56a2d6a 100644
--- a/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
+++ b/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
@@ -952,7 +952,7 @@ Module.prototype._compile = function(content, filename) {
 
 // Native extension for .js
 Module._extensions['.js'] = function(module, filename) {
-  if (filename.endsWith('.js')) {
+  if (experimentalModules && filename.endsWith('.js')) {
     const pkg = readPackageScope(filename);
     if (pkg && pkg.type === 'module') {
       throw new ERR_REQUIRE_ESM(filename);
diff --git a/test/es-module/test-esm-type-flag-errors.js b/test/es-module/test-esm-type-flag-errors.js
index a54a018ad9b774..8725fb62323b75 100644
--- a/test/es-module/test-esm-type-flag-errors.js
+++ b/test/es-module/test-esm-type-flag-errors.js
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+// Flags: --experimental-modules
 'use strict';
 const common = require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');