diff --git a/lib/internal/child_process.js b/lib/internal/child_process.js
index d0a4b2f6ef666d..40592146ada6de 100644
--- a/lib/internal/child_process.js
+++ b/lib/internal/child_process.js
@@ -366,11 +366,8 @@ ChildProcess.prototype.spawn = function(options) {
     // Let child process know about opened IPC channel
     if (options.envPairs === undefined)
       options.envPairs = [];
-    else if (!ArrayIsArray(options.envPairs)) {
-      throw new ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE('options.envPairs',
-                                     'Array',
-                                     options.envPairs);
-    }
+    else
+      validateArray(options.envPairs, 'options.envPairs');
 
     ArrayPrototypePush(options.envPairs, `NODE_CHANNEL_FD=${ipcFd}`);
     ArrayPrototypePush(options.envPairs,