diff --git a/test/parallel/test-npm-install.js b/test/parallel/test-npm-install.js
index 34f48d50ccdb2b..d826eb09ed4756 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-npm-install.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-npm-install.js
@@ -57,7 +57,5 @@ 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`));
 }