diff --git a/lib/internal/util/inspect.js b/lib/internal/util/inspect.js
index 88e70647626c6c..0bdb1128f08e50 100644
--- a/lib/internal/util/inspect.js
+++ b/lib/internal/util/inspect.js
@@ -1360,7 +1360,8 @@ function handleMaxCallStackSize(ctx, err, constructorName, indentationLvl) {
       'special'
     );
   }
-  throw err;
+  /* c8 ignore next */
+  assert.fail(err.stack);
 }
 
 function formatNumber(fn, value) {