diff --git a/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js b/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
index 11ddef4bf88232..3b30c51a6f304e 100644
--- a/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
+++ b/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
@@ -1214,8 +1214,8 @@ Module._resolveFilename = function(request, parent, isMain, options) {
 
   if (request[0] === '#' && (parent?.filename || parent?.id === '<repl>')) {
     const parentPath = parent?.filename ?? process.cwd() + path.sep;
-    const pkg = packageJsonReader.getNearestParentPackageJSON(parentPath) || { __proto__: null };
-    if (pkg.data?.imports != null) {
+    const pkg = packageJsonReader.getNearestParentPackageJSON(parentPath);
+    if (pkg?.data.imports != null) {
       try {
         const { packageImportsResolve } = require('internal/modules/esm/resolve');
         return finalizeEsmResolution(