diff --git a/test/parallel/test-child-process-stdio-big-write-end.js b/test/parallel/test-child-process-stdio-big-write-end.js
index 2ba409b09898e4..00fc0471d235aa 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-child-process-stdio-big-write-end.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-child-process-stdio-big-write-end.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ switch (process.argv[2]) {
   case 'child':
     return child();
   default:
-    throw new Error('wtf?');
+    throw new Error('invalid');
 }
 
 function parent() {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-process-exit-code.js b/test/parallel/test-process-exit-code.js
index 4deebb54a10784..55120f66926374 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-process-exit-code.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-process-exit-code.js
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ switch (process.argv[2]) {
   case undefined:
     return parent();
   default:
-    throw new Error('wtf');
+    throw new Error('invalid');
 }
 
 function child1() {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-process-raw-debug.js b/test/parallel/test-process-raw-debug.js
index 6f989e123e8916..1f1ec4c3803e2e 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-process-raw-debug.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-process-raw-debug.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ switch (process.argv[2]) {
   case undefined:
     return parent();
   default:
-    throw new Error(`wtf? ${process.argv[2]}`);
+    throw new Error(`invalid: ${process.argv[2]}`);
 }
 
 function parent() {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-repl-syntax-error-handling.js b/test/parallel/test-repl-syntax-error-handling.js
index 79dd4814c57545..67bf5f6038bf63 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-repl-syntax-error-handling.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-repl-syntax-error-handling.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ switch (process.argv[2]) {
   case undefined:
     return parent();
   default:
-    throw new Error('wtf');
+    throw new Error('invalid');
 }
 
 function parent() {
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-net-GH-5504.js b/test/sequential/test-net-GH-5504.js
index d744525710d2d5..ebe987d0443b6c 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-net-GH-5504.js
+++ b/test/sequential/test-net-GH-5504.js
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ switch (process.argv[2]) {
   case 'server': return server();
   case 'client': return client();
   case undefined: return parent();
-  default: throw new Error('wtf');
+  default: throw new Error('invalid');
 }
 
 function server() {