diff --git a/lib/internal/process/esm_loader.js b/lib/internal/process/esm_loader.js
index 996532a930496f..fe47098fde2f63 100644
--- a/lib/internal/process/esm_loader.js
+++ b/lib/internal/process/esm_loader.js
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@ const { pathToFileURL } = require('internal/url');
 const {
   getModuleFromWrap,
 } = require('internal/vm/module');
-const { getOptionValue } = require('internal/options');
-const userLoader = getOptionValue('--experimental-loader');
 
 exports.initializeImportMetaObject = function(wrap, meta) {
   const { callbackMap } = internalBinding('module_wrap');
@@ -38,6 +36,8 @@ exports.ESMLoader = ESMLoader;
 
 exports.initializeLoader = initializeLoader;
 async function initializeLoader() {
+  const { getOptionValue } = require('internal/options');
+  const userLoader = getOptionValue('--experimental-loader');
   if (!userLoader)
     return;
   let cwd;