diff --git a/lib/internal/watch_mode/files_watcher.js b/lib/internal/watch_mode/files_watcher.js
index 895c6ec138d131..51b09c840b65f4 100644
--- a/lib/internal/watch_mode/files_watcher.js
+++ b/lib/internal/watch_mode/files_watcher.js
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ class FilesWatcher extends EventEmitter {
     }
     const watcher = watch(path, { recursive, signal: this.#signal });
     watcher.on('change', (eventType, fileName) => this
-      .#onChange(recursive ? resolve(path, fileName) : path));
+      .#onChange(recursive ? resolve(path, fileName ?? '') : path));
     this.#watchers.set(path, { handle: watcher, recursive });
     if (recursive) {
       this.#removeWatchedChildren(path);