diff --git a/test/parallel/test-npm-install.js b/test/parallel/test-npm-install.js
index 4e718a78ddcbdd..d4f8149a844a27 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-npm-install.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-npm-install.js
@@ -55,7 +55,5 @@ function handleExit(error, stdout, stderr) {
 
   assert.strictEqual(code, 0, `npm install got error code ${code}`);
   assert.strictEqual(signalCode, null, `unexpected signal: ${signalCode}`);
-  assert.doesNotThrow(function() {
-    fs.accessSync(`${installDir}/node_modules/package-name`);
-  });
+  assert(fs.existsSync(`${installDir}/node_modules/package-name`));
 }