diff --git a/lib/internal/test_runner/utils.js b/lib/internal/test_runner/utils.js
index 2cc70967c5505c..25a82e46667cb0 100644
--- a/lib/internal/test_runner/utils.js
+++ b/lib/internal/test_runner/utils.js
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ async function setupTestReporters(rootTest) {
   for (let i = 0; i < reportersMap.length; i++) {
     const { reporter, destination } = reportersMap[i];
     compose(rootTest.reporter, reporter).on('error', (err) => {
-      process.exitCode = 1;
+      process.exitCode ||= 1;
       console.error(err);
     }).pipe(destination);
   }