diff --git a/lib/internal/fs/watchers.js b/lib/internal/fs/watchers.js
index 4dfa83c3b218e2..c974f40aae104f 100644
--- a/lib/internal/fs/watchers.js
+++ b/lib/internal/fs/watchers.js
@@ -174,6 +174,12 @@ FSWatcher.prototype[kFSWatchStart] = function(filename,
   }
 };
 
+// To maximize backward-compatiblity for the end user,
+// a no-op stub method has been added instead of
+// totally removing FSWatcher.prototpye.start.
+// This should not be documented.
+FSWatcher.prototype.start = () => {};
+
 // This method is a noop if the watcher has not been started or
 // has already been closed.
 FSWatcher.prototype.close = function() {