diff --git a/lib/internal/modules/esm/loader.js b/lib/internal/modules/esm/loader.js
index 6cccecdf57e381..38cd2777dab9c5 100644
--- a/lib/internal/modules/esm/loader.js
+++ b/lib/internal/modules/esm/loader.js
@@ -777,14 +777,14 @@ class ESMLoader {
    * @param {string} originalSpecifier The specified URL path of the module to
    *                                   be resolved.
    * @param {string} [parentURL] The URL path of the module's parent.
-   * @param {ImportAssertions} [importAssertions] Assertions from the import
+   * @param {ImportAssertions} importAssertions Assertions from the import
    *                                              statement or expression.
    * @returns {{ format: string, url: URL['href'] }}
    */
   async resolve(
     originalSpecifier,
     parentURL,
-    importAssertions = { __proto__: null },
+    importAssertions,
   ) {
     const isMain = parentURL === undefined;