diff --git a/lib/internal/child_process.js b/lib/internal/child_process.js
index f482d85a2c84d3..3613bfd0efeec8 100644
--- a/lib/internal/child_process.js
+++ b/lib/internal/child_process.js
@@ -692,7 +692,9 @@ function handleMessage(target, message, handle) {
       message.cmd.slice(0, INTERNAL_PREFIX.length) === INTERNAL_PREFIX) {
     eventName = 'internalMessage';
   }
-  target.emit(eventName, message, handle);
+  process.nextTick(() => {
+    target.emit(eventName, message, handle);
+  });
 }
 
 function nop() { }