diff --git a/lib/internal/repl.js b/lib/internal/repl.js
index 6fc5eefc1ba6d8..f2fea166a61d93 100644
--- a/lib/internal/repl.js
+++ b/lib/internal/repl.js
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ function createRepl(env, cb) {
   }
 
   const repl = REPL.start(opts);
-  if (env.NODE_REPL_HISTORY_PATH) {
+  if (opts.terminal && env.NODE_REPL_HISTORY_PATH) {
     return setupHistory(repl, env.NODE_REPL_HISTORY_PATH, cb);
   }
   repl._historyPrev = _replHistoryMessage;