diff --git a/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js b/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
index 7b67efac2390e8..44c35718735426 100644
--- a/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
+++ b/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
@@ -661,9 +661,11 @@ Module.prototype.load = function(filename) {
     // create module entry at load time to snapshot exports correctly
     const exports = this.exports;
     if (module !== undefined) { // called from cjs translator
-      module.reflect.onReady((reflect) => {
-        reflect.exports.default.set(exports);
-      });
+      if (module.reflect) {
+        module.reflect.onReady((reflect) => {
+          reflect.exports.default.set(exports);
+        });
+      }
     } else { // preemptively cache
       ESMLoader.moduleMap.set(
         url,