diff --git a/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js b/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
index 80226db94e5e78..4772b61994dff4 100644
--- a/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
+++ b/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
@@ -917,11 +917,11 @@ Module._load = function(request, parent, isMain) {
     // Slice 'node:' prefix
     const id = StringPrototypeSlice(request, 5);
 
-    const module = loadBuiltinModule(id, request);
     if (!BuiltinModule.canBeRequiredByUsers(id)) {
       throw new ERR_UNKNOWN_BUILTIN_MODULE(request);
     }
 
+    const module = loadBuiltinModule(id, request);
     return module.exports;
   }