diff --git a/test/parallel/test-child-process-stdio-big-write-end.js b/test/parallel/test-child-process-stdio-big-write-end.js
index 71333bdbd534ab..0880c49868fae0 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-child-process-stdio-big-write-end.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-child-process-stdio-big-write-end.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ switch (process.argv[2]) {
   case 'child':
     return child();
   default:
-    throw new Error('wtf?');
+    throw new Error('invalid');
 }
 
 function parent() {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-process-exit-code.js b/test/parallel/test-process-exit-code.js
index c26a72fcc596d7..11e00152fdf011 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-process-exit-code.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-process-exit-code.js
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ switch (process.argv[2]) {
   case undefined:
     return parent();
   default:
-    throw new Error('wtf');
+    throw new Error('invalid');
 }
 
 function child1() {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-process-raw-debug.js b/test/parallel/test-process-raw-debug.js
index b9dbb8a2de9490..1b5c7242f9afdc 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-process-raw-debug.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-process-raw-debug.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ switch (process.argv[2]) {
   case undefined:
     return parent();
   default:
-    throw new Error(`wtf? ${process.argv[2]}`);
+    throw new Error(`invalid: ${process.argv[2]}`);
 }
 
 function parent() {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-repl-syntax-error-handling.js b/test/parallel/test-repl-syntax-error-handling.js
index 9014f9a02f22be..c56c45dc6b90ae 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-repl-syntax-error-handling.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-repl-syntax-error-handling.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ switch (process.argv[2]) {
   case undefined:
     return parent();
   default:
-    throw new Error('wtf');
+    throw new Error('invalid');
 }
 
 function parent() {
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-net-GH-5504.js b/test/sequential/test-net-GH-5504.js
index 46448342a2f257..e0cce99524a867 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-net-GH-5504.js
+++ b/test/sequential/test-net-GH-5504.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ switch (process.argv[2]) {
   case 'server': return server();
   case 'client': return client();
   case undefined: return parent();
-  default: throw new Error('wtf');
+  default: throw new Error('invalid');
 }
 
 function server() {