diff --git a/doc/api/cli.md b/doc/api/cli.md
index faade390886e9b..18c16aba1e7604 100644
--- a/doc/api/cli.md
+++ b/doc/api/cli.md
@@ -2267,6 +2267,9 @@ This option may be specified multiple times to exclude multiple glob patterns.
 If both `--test-coverage-exclude` and `--test-coverage-include` are provided,
 files must meet **both** criteria to be included in the coverage report.
 
+By default all the matching test files are excluded from the coverage report.
+Specifying this option will override the default behavior.
+
 ### `--test-coverage-functions=threshold`
 
 <!-- YAML
diff --git a/doc/api/test.md b/doc/api/test.md
index 4acc6b8c76005a..2d2245083d1ac4 100644
--- a/doc/api/test.md
+++ b/doc/api/test.md
@@ -476,8 +476,10 @@ all tests have completed. If the [`NODE_V8_COVERAGE`][] environment variable is
 used to specify a code coverage directory, the generated V8 coverage files are
 written to that directory. Node.js core modules and files within
 `node_modules/` directories are, by default, not included in the coverage report.
-However, they can be explicitly included via the [`--test-coverage-include`][] flag. If
-coverage is enabled, the coverage report is sent to any [test reporters][] via
+However, they can be explicitly included via the [`--test-coverage-include`][] flag.
+By default all the matching test files are excluded from the coverage report.
+Exclusions can be overridden by using the [`--test-coverage-exclude`][] flag.
+If coverage is enabled, the coverage report is sent to any [test reporters][] via
 the `'test:coverage'` event.
 
 Coverage can be disabled on a series of lines using the following
@@ -3592,6 +3594,7 @@ Can be used to abort test subtasks when the test has been aborted.
 [`--experimental-test-module-mocks`]: cli.md#--experimental-test-module-mocks
 [`--import`]: cli.md#--importmodule
 [`--test-concurrency`]: cli.md#--test-concurrency
+[`--test-coverage-exclude`]: cli.md#--test-coverage-exclude
 [`--test-coverage-include`]: cli.md#--test-coverage-include
 [`--test-name-pattern`]: cli.md#--test-name-pattern
 [`--test-only`]: cli.md#--test-only
diff --git a/lib/internal/fs/glob.js b/lib/internal/fs/glob.js
index 0f4939f7e1ba0d..6876b3d5721c67 100644
--- a/lib/internal/fs/glob.js
+++ b/lib/internal/fs/glob.js
@@ -650,7 +650,30 @@ class Glob {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Check if a path matches a glob pattern
+ * @param {string} path the path to check
+ * @param {string} pattern the glob pattern to match
+ * @param {boolean} windows whether the path is on a Windows system, defaults to `isWindows`
+ * @returns {boolean}
+ */
+function matchGlobPattern(path, pattern, windows = isWindows) {
+  validateString(path, 'path');
+  validateString(pattern, 'pattern');
+  return lazyMinimatch().minimatch(path, pattern, {
+    kEmptyObject,
+    nocase: isMacOS || isWindows,
+    windowsPathsNoEscape: true,
+    nonegate: true,
+    nocomment: true,
+    optimizationLevel: 2,
+    platform: windows ? 'win32' : 'posix',
+    nocaseMagicOnly: true,
+  });
+}
+
 module.exports = {
   __proto__: null,
   Glob,
+  matchGlobPattern,
 };
diff --git a/lib/internal/test_runner/coverage.js b/lib/internal/test_runner/coverage.js
index c27b34b9c762c4..42fa2b87b778f1 100644
--- a/lib/internal/test_runner/coverage.js
+++ b/lib/internal/test_runner/coverage.js
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ const {
 } = require('fs');
 const { setupCoverageHooks } = require('internal/util');
 const { tmpdir } = require('os');
-const { join, resolve, relative, matchesGlob } = require('path');
+const { join, resolve, relative } = require('path');
 const { fileURLToPath } = require('internal/url');
 const { kMappings, SourceMap } = require('internal/source_map/source_map');
 const {
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ const {
     ERR_SOURCE_MAP_MISSING_SOURCE,
   },
 } = require('internal/errors');
+const { matchGlobPattern } = require('internal/fs/glob');
+
 const kCoverageFileRegex = /^coverage-(\d+)-(\d{13})-(\d+)\.json$/;
 const kIgnoreRegex = /\/\* node:coverage ignore next (?<count>\d+ )?\*\//;
 const kLineEndingRegex = /\r?\n$/u;
@@ -464,19 +466,24 @@ class TestCoverage {
       coverageExcludeGlobs: excludeGlobs,
       coverageIncludeGlobs: includeGlobs,
     } = this.options;
+
     // This check filters out files that match the exclude globs.
     if (excludeGlobs?.length > 0) {
       for (let i = 0; i < excludeGlobs.length; ++i) {
-        if (matchesGlob(relativePath, excludeGlobs[i]) ||
-            matchesGlob(absolutePath, excludeGlobs[i])) return true;
+        if (
+          matchGlobPattern(relativePath, excludeGlobs[i]) ||
+          matchGlobPattern(absolutePath, excludeGlobs[i])
+        ) return true;
       }
     }
 
     // This check filters out files that do not match the include globs.
     if (includeGlobs?.length > 0) {
       for (let i = 0; i < includeGlobs.length; ++i) {
-        if (matchesGlob(relativePath, includeGlobs[i]) ||
-            matchesGlob(absolutePath, includeGlobs[i])) return false;
+        if (
+          matchGlobPattern(relativePath, includeGlobs[i]) ||
+          matchGlobPattern(absolutePath, includeGlobs[i])
+        ) return false;
       }
       return true;
     }
diff --git a/lib/internal/test_runner/utils.js b/lib/internal/test_runner/utils.js
index 243b648795a7ef..99c53a170313ad 100644
--- a/lib/internal/test_runner/utils.js
+++ b/lib/internal/test_runner/utils.js
@@ -287,6 +287,11 @@ function parseCommandLine() {
 
   if (coverage) {
     coverageExcludeGlobs = getOptionValue('--test-coverage-exclude');
+    if (!coverageExcludeGlobs || coverageExcludeGlobs.length === 0) {
+      // TODO(pmarchini): this default should follow something similar to c8 defaults
+      // Default exclusions should be also exported to be used by other tools / users
+      coverageExcludeGlobs = [kDefaultPattern];
+    }
     coverageIncludeGlobs = getOptionValue('--test-coverage-include');
 
     branchCoverage = getOptionValue('--test-coverage-branches');
diff --git a/lib/path.js b/lib/path.js
index 40161c45e2a911..8b9d6d0b6b9621 100644
--- a/lib/path.js
+++ b/lib/path.js
@@ -52,13 +52,12 @@ const {
 } = require('internal/validators');
 
 const {
-  getLazy,
   emitExperimentalWarning,
   isWindows,
-  isMacOS,
+  getLazy,
 } = require('internal/util');
 
-const lazyMinimatch = getLazy(() => require('internal/deps/minimatch/index'));
+const lazyMatchGlobPattern = getLazy(() => require('internal/fs/glob').matchGlobPattern);
 
 function isPathSeparator(code) {
   return code === CHAR_FORWARD_SLASH || code === CHAR_BACKWARD_SLASH;
@@ -164,22 +163,6 @@ function _format(sep, pathObject) {
   return dir === pathObject.root ? `${dir}${base}` : `${dir}${sep}${base}`;
 }
 
-function glob(path, pattern, windows) {
-  emitExperimentalWarning('glob');
-  validateString(path, 'path');
-  validateString(pattern, 'pattern');
-  return lazyMinimatch().minimatch(path, pattern, {
-    __proto__: null,
-    nocase: isMacOS || isWindows,
-    windowsPathsNoEscape: true,
-    nonegate: true,
-    nocomment: true,
-    optimizationLevel: 2,
-    platform: windows ? 'win32' : 'posix',
-    nocaseMagicOnly: true,
-  });
-}
-
 const win32 = {
   /**
    * path.resolve([from ...], to)
@@ -1140,7 +1123,8 @@ const win32 = {
   },
 
   matchesGlob(path, pattern) {
-    return glob(path, pattern, true);
+    emitExperimentalWarning('glob');
+    return lazyMatchGlobPattern()(path, pattern, true);
   },
 
   sep: '\\',
@@ -1616,7 +1600,8 @@ const posix = {
   },
 
   matchesGlob(path, pattern) {
-    return glob(path, pattern, false);
+    emitExperimentalWarning('glob');
+    return lazyMatchGlobPattern()(path, pattern, false);
   },
 
   sep: '/',
diff --git a/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/file-test.js b/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/file-test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..ff1e8a2be02fcf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/file-test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+const test = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert');
+const { foo } = require('./logic-file');
+
+test('foo returns 1', () => {
+    assert.strictEqual(foo(), 1);
+});
diff --git a/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/file.test.mjs b/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/file.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..5b25d4c85d6b6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/file.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import test from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert';
+import { foo } from './logic-file.js';
+
+test('foo returns 1', () => {
+    assert.strictEqual(foo(), 1);
+});
diff --git a/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/file.test.ts b/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/file.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..5b25d4c85d6b6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/file.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import test from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert';
+import { foo } from './logic-file.js';
+
+test('foo returns 1', () => {
+    assert.strictEqual(foo(), 1);
+});
diff --git a/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/logic-file.js b/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/logic-file.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..cc2ca8284abe7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/logic-file.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+function foo() {
+    return 1;
+}
+
+function bar() {
+    return 'bar';
+}
+
+module.exports = { foo, bar };
diff --git a/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/test.cjs b/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/test.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..641bad44ed4f33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/test.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+const test = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert');
+const { foo } = require('./logic-file.js');
+
+test('foo returns 1', () => {
+    assert.strictEqual(foo(), 1);
+});
diff --git a/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/test/not-matching-test-name.js b/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/test/not-matching-test-name.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..8d01a2b260657f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage-default-exclusion/test/not-matching-test-name.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+const test = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert');
+const { foo } = require('../logic-file.js');
+
+test('foo returns 1', () => {
+    assert.strictEqual(foo(), 1);
+});
diff --git a/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/lcov_reporter.js b/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/lcov_reporter.js
index a6d17432d18c23..9c6709c3933761 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/lcov_reporter.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/lcov_reporter.js
@@ -4,4 +4,13 @@ const fixtures = require('../../../common/fixtures');
 const spawn = require('node:child_process').spawn;
 
 spawn(process.execPath,
-      ['--no-warnings', '--experimental-test-coverage', '--test-reporter', 'lcov', fixtures.path('test-runner/output/output.js')], { stdio: 'inherit' });
+      [
+            '--no-warnings',
+            '--experimental-test-coverage',
+            '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
+            '--test-reporter',
+            'lcov',
+            fixtures.path('test-runner/output/output.js')
+      ],
+      { stdio: 'inherit' }
+);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-runner-coverage-default-exclusion.mjs b/test/parallel/test-runner-coverage-default-exclusion.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..621e49412d5c8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/parallel/test-runner-coverage-default-exclusion.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+import '../common/index.mjs';
+import { before, describe, it } from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert';
+import { spawnSync } from 'node:child_process';
+import { cp } from 'node:fs/promises';
+import tmpdir from '../common/tmpdir.js';
+import fixtures from '../common/fixtures.js';
+const skipIfNoInspector = {
+  skip: !process.features.inspector ? 'inspector disabled' : false
+};
+
+tmpdir.refresh();
+
+async function setupFixtures() {
+  const fixtureDir = fixtures.path('test-runner', 'coverage-default-exclusion');
+  await cp(fixtureDir, tmpdir.path, { recursive: true });
+}
+
+describe('test runner coverage default exclusion', skipIfNoInspector, () => {
+  before(async () => {
+    await setupFixtures();
+  });
+
+  it('should override default exclusion setting --test-coverage-exclude', async () => {
+    const report = [
+      '# start of coverage report',
+      '# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------',
+      '# file                       | line % | branch % | funcs % | uncovered lines',
+      '# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------',
+      '# file-test.js               | 100.00 |   100.00 |  100.00 | ',
+      '# file.test.mjs              | 100.00 |   100.00 |  100.00 | ',
+      '# logic-file.js              |  66.67 |   100.00 |   50.00 | 5-7',
+      '# test.cjs                   | 100.00 |   100.00 |  100.00 | ',
+      '# test                       |        |          |         | ',
+      '#  not-matching-test-name.js | 100.00 |   100.00 |  100.00 | ',
+      '# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------',
+      '# all files                  |  91.89 |   100.00 |   83.33 | ',
+      '# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------',
+      '# end of coverage report',
+    ].join('\n');
+
+
+    const args = [
+      '--test',
+      '--experimental-test-coverage',
+      '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
+      '--test-reporter=tap',
+    ];
+    const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, args, {
+      env: { ...process.env, NODE_TEST_TMPDIR: tmpdir.path },
+      cwd: tmpdir.path
+    });
+
+    assert.strictEqual(result.stderr.toString(), '');
+    assert(result.stdout.toString().includes(report));
+    assert.strictEqual(result.status, 0);
+  });
+
+  it('should exclude test files from coverage by default', async () => {
+    const report = [
+      '# start of coverage report',
+      '# --------------------------------------------------------------',
+      '# file          | line % | branch % | funcs % | uncovered lines',
+      '# --------------------------------------------------------------',
+      '# logic-file.js |  66.67 |   100.00 |   50.00 | 5-7',
+      '# --------------------------------------------------------------',
+      '# all files     |  66.67 |   100.00 |   50.00 | ',
+      '# --------------------------------------------------------------',
+      '# end of coverage report',
+    ].join('\n');
+
+    const args = [
+      '--test',
+      '--experimental-test-coverage',
+      '--test-reporter=tap',
+    ];
+    const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, args, {
+      env: { ...process.env, NODE_TEST_TMPDIR: tmpdir.path },
+      cwd: tmpdir.path
+    });
+
+    assert.strictEqual(result.stderr.toString(), '');
+    assert(result.stdout.toString().includes(report));
+    assert.strictEqual(result.status, 0);
+  });
+
+  it('should exclude ts test files when using --experimental-strip-types', async () => {
+    const report = [
+      '# start of coverage report',
+      '# --------------------------------------------------------------',
+      '# file          | line % | branch % | funcs % | uncovered lines',
+      '# --------------------------------------------------------------',
+      '# logic-file.js |  66.67 |   100.00 |   50.00 | 5-7',
+      '# --------------------------------------------------------------',
+      '# all files     |  66.67 |   100.00 |   50.00 | ',
+      '# --------------------------------------------------------------',
+      '# end of coverage report',
+    ].join('\n');
+
+    const args = [
+      '--test',
+      '--experimental-test-coverage',
+      '--experimental-strip-types',
+      '--disable-warning=ExperimentalWarning',
+      '--test-reporter=tap',
+    ];
+    const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, args, {
+      env: { ...process.env, NODE_TEST_TMPDIR: tmpdir.path },
+      cwd: tmpdir.path
+    });
+
+    assert.strictEqual(result.stderr.toString(), '');
+    assert(result.stdout.toString().includes(report));
+    assert.strictEqual(result.status, 0);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-runner-coverage-source-map.js b/test/parallel/test-runner-coverage-source-map.js
index 48807fb2d193b4..1f6e6d2c81fb45 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-runner-coverage-source-map.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-runner-coverage-source-map.js
@@ -20,7 +20,11 @@ function generateReport(report) {
 
 const flags = [
   '--enable-source-maps',
-  '--test', '--experimental-test-coverage', '--test-reporter', 'tap',
+  '--test',
+  '--experimental-test-coverage',
+  '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
+  '--test-reporter',
+  'tap',
 ];
 
 describe('Coverage with source maps', async () => {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-runner-coverage-thresholds.js b/test/parallel/test-runner-coverage-thresholds.js
index c1b64cb06a83ff..61066f80a39cc0 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-runner-coverage-thresholds.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-runner-coverage-thresholds.js
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ for (const coverage of coverages) {
     const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, [
       '--test',
       '--experimental-test-coverage',
+      '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
       `${coverage.flag}=25`,
       '--test-reporter', 'tap',
       fixture,
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@ for (const coverage of coverages) {
     const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, [
       '--test',
       '--experimental-test-coverage',
+      '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
       `${coverage.flag}=25`,
       '--test-reporter', reporter,
       fixture,
@@ -92,6 +94,7 @@ for (const coverage of coverages) {
     const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, [
       '--test',
       '--experimental-test-coverage',
+      '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
       `${coverage.flag}=99`,
       '--test-reporter', 'tap',
       fixture,
@@ -108,6 +111,7 @@ for (const coverage of coverages) {
     const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, [
       '--test',
       '--experimental-test-coverage',
+      '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
       `${coverage.flag}=99`,
       '--test-reporter', reporter,
       fixture,
@@ -123,6 +127,7 @@ for (const coverage of coverages) {
     const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, [
       '--test',
       '--experimental-test-coverage',
+      '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
       `${coverage.flag}=101`,
       fixture,
     ]);
@@ -136,6 +141,7 @@ for (const coverage of coverages) {
     const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, [
       '--test',
       '--experimental-test-coverage',
+      '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
       `${coverage.flag}=-1`,
       fixture,
     ]);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-runner-coverage.js b/test/parallel/test-runner-coverage.js
index 5756f1d237605c..3a9de3c053431e 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-runner-coverage.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-runner-coverage.js
@@ -84,7 +84,11 @@ test('test coverage report', async (t) => {
     }
 
     const fixture = fixtures.path('test-runner', 'coverage.js');
-    const args = ['--experimental-test-coverage', fixture];
+    const args = [
+      '--experimental-test-coverage',
+      '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
+      fixture,
+    ];
     const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, args);
 
     assert(!result.stdout.toString().includes('# start of coverage report'));
@@ -97,7 +101,13 @@ test('test coverage report', async (t) => {
 test('test tap coverage reporter', skipIfNoInspector, async (t) => {
   await t.test('coverage is reported and dumped to NODE_V8_COVERAGE if present', (t) => {
     const fixture = fixtures.path('test-runner', 'coverage.js');
-    const args = ['--experimental-test-coverage', '--test-reporter', 'tap', fixture];
+    const args = [
+      '--experimental-test-coverage',
+      '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
+      '--test-reporter',
+      'tap',
+      fixture,
+    ];
     const options = { env: { ...process.env, NODE_V8_COVERAGE: tmpdir.path } };
     const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, args, options);
     const report = getTapCoverageFixtureReport();
@@ -109,7 +119,13 @@ test('test tap coverage reporter', skipIfNoInspector, async (t) => {
 
   await t.test('coverage is reported without NODE_V8_COVERAGE present', (t) => {
     const fixture = fixtures.path('test-runner', 'coverage.js');
-    const args = ['--experimental-test-coverage', '--test-reporter', 'tap', fixture];
+    const args = [
+      '--experimental-test-coverage',
+      '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
+      '--test-reporter',
+      'tap',
+      fixture,
+    ];
     const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, args);
     const report = getTapCoverageFixtureReport();
 
@@ -123,7 +139,12 @@ test('test tap coverage reporter', skipIfNoInspector, async (t) => {
 test('test spec coverage reporter', skipIfNoInspector, async (t) => {
   await t.test('coverage is reported and dumped to NODE_V8_COVERAGE if present', (t) => {
     const fixture = fixtures.path('test-runner', 'coverage.js');
-    const args = ['--experimental-test-coverage', '--test-reporter', 'spec', fixture];
+    const args = [
+      '--experimental-test-coverage',
+      '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
+      '--test-reporter',
+      'spec',
+      fixture];
     const options = { env: { ...process.env, NODE_V8_COVERAGE: tmpdir.path } };
     const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, args, options);
     const report = getSpecCoverageFixtureReport();
@@ -136,7 +157,12 @@ test('test spec coverage reporter', skipIfNoInspector, async (t) => {
 
   await t.test('coverage is reported without NODE_V8_COVERAGE present', (t) => {
     const fixture = fixtures.path('test-runner', 'coverage.js');
-    const args = ['--experimental-test-coverage', '--test-reporter', 'spec', fixture];
+    const args = [
+      '--experimental-test-coverage',
+      '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
+      '--test-reporter',
+      'spec',
+      fixture];
     const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, args);
     const report = getSpecCoverageFixtureReport();
 
@@ -150,7 +176,12 @@ test('test spec coverage reporter', skipIfNoInspector, async (t) => {
 test('single process coverage is the same with --test', skipIfNoInspector, () => {
   const fixture = fixtures.path('test-runner', 'coverage.js');
   const args = [
-    '--test', '--experimental-test-coverage', '--test-reporter', 'tap', fixture,
+    '--test',
+    '--experimental-test-coverage',
+    '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
+    '--test-reporter',
+    'tap',
+    fixture,
   ];
   const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, args);
   const report = getTapCoverageFixtureReport();
@@ -183,7 +214,11 @@ test('coverage is combined for multiple processes', skipIfNoInspector, () => {
 
   const fixture = fixtures.path('v8-coverage', 'combined_coverage');
   const args = [
-    '--test', '--experimental-test-coverage', '--test-reporter', 'tap',
+    '--test',
+    '--experimental-test-coverage',
+    '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
+    '--test-reporter',
+    'tap',
   ];
   const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, args, {
     env: { ...process.env, NODE_TEST_TMPDIR: tmpdir.path },
@@ -221,7 +256,11 @@ test.skip('coverage works with isolation=none', skipIfNoInspector, () => {
 
   const fixture = fixtures.path('v8-coverage', 'combined_coverage');
   const args = [
-    '--test', '--experimental-test-coverage', '--test-reporter', 'tap', '--experimental-test-isolation=none',
+    '--test',
+    '--experimental-test-coverage',
+    '--test-reporter',
+    'tap',
+    '--experimental-test-isolation=none',
   ];
   const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, args, {
     env: { ...process.env, NODE_TEST_TMPDIR: tmpdir.path },
@@ -236,9 +275,14 @@ test.skip('coverage works with isolation=none', skipIfNoInspector, () => {
 test('coverage reports on lines, functions, and branches', skipIfNoInspector, async (t) => {
   const fixture = fixtures.path('test-runner', 'coverage.js');
   const child = spawnSync(process.execPath,
-                          ['--test', '--experimental-test-coverage', '--test-reporter',
-                           fixtures.fileURL('test-runner/custom_reporters/coverage.mjs'),
-                           fixture]);
+                          [
+                            '--test',
+                            '--experimental-test-coverage',
+                            '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
+                            '--test-reporter',
+                            fixtures.fileURL('test-runner/custom_reporters/coverage.mjs'),
+                            fixture,
+                          ]);
   assert.strictEqual(child.stderr.toString(), '');
   const stdout = child.stdout.toString();
   const coverage = JSON.parse(stdout);
@@ -310,7 +354,14 @@ test('coverage with ESM hook - source irrelevant', skipIfNoInspector, () => {
 
   const fixture = fixtures.path('test-runner', 'coverage-loader');
   const args = [
-    '--import', './register-hooks.js', '--test', '--experimental-test-coverage', '--test-reporter', 'tap', 'virtual.js',
+    '--import',
+    './register-hooks.js',
+    '--test',
+    '--experimental-test-coverage',
+    '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
+    '--test-reporter',
+    'tap',
+    'virtual.js',
   ];
   const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, args, { cwd: fixture });
 
@@ -341,7 +392,10 @@ test('coverage with ESM hook - source transpiled', skipIfNoInspector, () => {
 
   const fixture = fixtures.path('test-runner', 'coverage-loader');
   const args = [
-    '--import', './register-hooks.js', '--test', '--experimental-test-coverage',
+    '--import', './register-hooks.js',
+    '--test',
+    '--experimental-test-coverage',
+    '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
     '--test-reporter', 'tap', 'sum.test.ts',
   ];
   const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, args, { cwd: fixture });
@@ -356,6 +410,7 @@ test('coverage with excluded files', skipIfNoInspector, () => {
   const args = [
     '--experimental-test-coverage', '--test-reporter', 'tap',
     '--test-coverage-exclude=test/*/test-runner/invalid-tap.js',
+    '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
     fixture];
   const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, args);
   const report = [
@@ -391,6 +446,7 @@ test('coverage with included files', skipIfNoInspector, () => {
     '--experimental-test-coverage', '--test-reporter', 'tap',
     '--test-coverage-include=test/fixtures/test-runner/coverage.js',
     '--test-coverage-include=test/fixtures/v8-coverage/throw.js',
+    '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
     fixture,
   ];
   const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, args);
@@ -478,7 +534,12 @@ test('correctly prints the coverage report of files contained in parent director
   }
   const fixture = fixtures.path('test-runner', 'coverage.js');
   const args = [
-    '--test', '--experimental-test-coverage', '--test-reporter', 'tap', fixture,
+    '--test',
+    '--experimental-test-coverage',
+    '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**',
+    '--test-reporter',
+    'tap',
+    fixture,
   ];
   const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, args, {
     env: { ...process.env, NODE_TEST_TMPDIR: tmpdir.path },
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-runner-output.mjs b/test/parallel/test-runner-output.mjs
index 4f745a5d4a9be7..3bc4b0ad3d1a2e 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-runner-output.mjs
+++ b/test/parallel/test-runner-output.mjs
@@ -171,7 +171,12 @@ const tests = [
     name: 'test-runner/output/source_mapped_locations.mjs',
     flags: ['--test-reporter=tap'],
   },
-  process.features.inspector ? { name: 'test-runner/output/lcov_reporter.js', transform: lcovTransform } : false,
+  process.features.inspector ?
+    {
+      name: 'test-runner/output/lcov_reporter.js',
+      transform: lcovTransform
+    } :
+    false,
   { name: 'test-runner/output/output.js', flags: ['--test-reporter=tap'] },
   { name: 'test-runner/output/output_cli.js' },
   {
@@ -236,7 +241,7 @@ const tests = [
   },
   process.features.inspector ? {
     name: 'test-runner/output/coverage_failure.js',
-    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap'],
+    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap', '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**'],
   } : false,
   {
     name: 'test-runner/output/test-diagnostic-warning-without-test-only-flag.js',
@@ -244,49 +249,51 @@ const tests = [
   },
   process.features.inspector ? {
     name: 'test-runner/output/coverage-width-40.mjs',
-    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap'],
+    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap', '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**'],
   } : false,
   process.features.inspector ? {
     name: 'test-runner/output/coverage-width-80.mjs',
-    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap'],
+    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap', '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**'],
   } : false,
   process.features.inspector && !skipCoverageColors ? {
     name: 'test-runner/output/coverage-width-80-color.mjs',
+    flags: ['--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**'],
     transform: specTransform,
     tty: true
   } : false,
   process.features.inspector ? {
     name: 'test-runner/output/coverage-width-100.mjs',
-    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap'],
+    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap', '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**'],
   } : false,
   process.features.inspector ? {
     name: 'test-runner/output/coverage-width-150.mjs',
-    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap'],
+    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap', '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**'],
   } : false,
   process.features.inspector ? {
     name: 'test-runner/output/coverage-width-infinity.mjs',
-    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap'],
+    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap', '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**'],
   } : false,
   process.features.inspector ? {
     name: 'test-runner/output/coverage-width-80-uncovered-lines.mjs',
-    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap'],
+    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap', '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**'],
   } : false,
   process.features.inspector ? {
     name: 'test-runner/output/coverage-width-100-uncovered-lines.mjs',
-    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap'],
+    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap', '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**'],
   } : false,
   process.features.inspector && !skipCoverageColors ? {
     name: 'test-runner/output/coverage-width-80-uncovered-lines-color.mjs',
+    flags: ['--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**'],
     transform: specTransform,
     tty: true
   } : false,
   process.features.inspector ? {
     name: 'test-runner/output/coverage-width-150-uncovered-lines.mjs',
-    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap'],
+    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap', '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**'],
   } : false,
   process.features.inspector ? {
     name: 'test-runner/output/coverage-width-infinity-uncovered-lines.mjs',
-    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap'],
+    flags: ['--test-reporter=tap', '--test-coverage-exclude=!test/**'],
   } : false,
 ]
 .filter(Boolean)