diff --git a/lib/fs.js b/lib/fs.js
index 2a06156d7b1450..3029f7552e89fd 100644
--- a/lib/fs.js
+++ b/lib/fs.js
@@ -83,7 +83,13 @@ const {
 
 const { FSReqCallback } = binding;
 const { toPathIfFileURL } = require('internal/url');
-const internalUtil = require('internal/util');
+const {
+  customPromisifyArgs: kCustomPromisifyArgsSymbol,
+  kEmptyObject,
+  promisify: {
+    custom: kCustomPromisifiedSymbol,
+  },
+} = require('internal/util');
 const {
   constants: {
     kIoMaxLength,
@@ -272,7 +278,7 @@ function exists(path, callback) {
   }
 }
 
-ObjectDefineProperty(exists, internalUtil.promisify.custom, {
+ObjectDefineProperty(exists, kCustomPromisifiedSymbol, {
   __proto__: null,
   value: function exists(path) { // eslint-disable-line func-name-matching
     return new Promise((resolve) => fs.exists(path, resolve));
@@ -619,7 +625,7 @@ function read(fd, buffer, offsetOrOptions, length, position, callback) {
       if (!isArrayBufferView(buffer)) {
         // This is fs.read(fd, params, callback)
         params = buffer;
-        ({ buffer = Buffer.alloc(16384) } = params ?? ObjectCreate(null));
+        ({ buffer = Buffer.alloc(16384) } = params ?? kEmptyObject);
       }
       callback = offsetOrOptions;
     } else {
@@ -632,7 +638,7 @@ function read(fd, buffer, offsetOrOptions, length, position, callback) {
       offset = 0,
       length = buffer.byteLength - offset,
       position = null,
-    } = params ?? ObjectCreate(null));
+    } = params ?? kEmptyObject);
   }
 
   validateBuffer(buffer);
@@ -675,7 +681,7 @@ function read(fd, buffer, offsetOrOptions, length, position, callback) {
   binding.read(fd, buffer, offset, length, position, req);
 }
 
-ObjectDefineProperty(read, internalUtil.customPromisifyArgs,
+ObjectDefineProperty(read, kCustomPromisifyArgsSymbol,
                      { __proto__: null, value: ['bytesRead', 'buffer'], enumerable: false });
 
 /**
@@ -697,7 +703,7 @@ function readSync(fd, buffer, offset, length, position) {
 
   if (arguments.length <= 3) {
     // Assume fs.readSync(fd, buffer, options)
-    const options = offset || ObjectCreate(null);
+    const options = offset || kEmptyObject;
 
     ({
       offset = 0,
@@ -768,7 +774,7 @@ function readv(fd, buffers, position, callback) {
   return binding.readBuffers(fd, buffers, position, req);
 }
 
-ObjectDefineProperty(readv, internalUtil.customPromisifyArgs,
+ObjectDefineProperty(readv, kCustomPromisifyArgsSymbol,
                      { __proto__: null, value: ['bytesRead', 'buffers'], enumerable: false });
 
 /**
@@ -825,7 +831,7 @@ function write(fd, buffer, offsetOrOptions, length, position, callback) {
         offset = 0,
         length = buffer.byteLength - offset,
         position = null,
-      } = offsetOrOptions ?? ObjectCreate(null));
+      } = offsetOrOptions ?? kEmptyObject);
     }
 
     if (offset == null || typeof offset === 'function') {
@@ -865,7 +871,7 @@ function write(fd, buffer, offsetOrOptions, length, position, callback) {
   return binding.writeString(fd, str, offset, length, req);
 }
 
-ObjectDefineProperty(write, internalUtil.customPromisifyArgs,
+ObjectDefineProperty(write, kCustomPromisifyArgsSymbol,
                      { __proto__: null, value: ['bytesWritten', 'buffer'], enumerable: false });
 
 /**
@@ -892,7 +898,7 @@ function writeSync(fd, buffer, offsetOrOptions, length, position) {
         offset = 0,
         length = buffer.byteLength - offset,
         position = null,
-      } = offsetOrOptions ?? ObjectCreate(null));
+      } = offsetOrOptions ?? kEmptyObject);
     }
     if (position === undefined)
       position = null;
@@ -955,7 +961,7 @@ function writev(fd, buffers, position, callback) {
   return binding.writeBuffers(fd, buffers, position, req);
 }
 
-ObjectDefineProperty(writev, internalUtil.customPromisifyArgs, {
+ObjectDefineProperty(writev, kCustomPromisifyArgsSymbol, {
   __proto__: null,
   value: ['bytesWritten', 'buffer'],
   enumerable: false
@@ -1398,7 +1404,7 @@ function mkdirSync(path, options) {
  */
 function readdir(path, options, callback) {
   callback = makeCallback(typeof options === 'function' ? options : callback);
-  options = getOptions(options, {});
+  options = getOptions(options);
   path = getValidatedPath(path);
 
   const req = new FSReqCallback();
@@ -1427,7 +1433,7 @@ function readdir(path, options, callback) {
  * @returns {string | Buffer[] | Dirent[]}
  */
 function readdirSync(path, options) {
-  options = getOptions(options, {});
+  options = getOptions(options);
   path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const ctx = { path };
   const result = binding.readdir(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
@@ -1451,7 +1457,7 @@ function readdirSync(path, options) {
 function fstat(fd, options = { bigint: false }, callback) {
   if (typeof options === 'function') {
     callback = options;
-    options = {};
+    options = kEmptyObject;
   }
   fd = getValidatedFd(fd);
   callback = makeStatsCallback(callback);
@@ -1475,7 +1481,7 @@ function fstat(fd, options = { bigint: false }, callback) {
 function lstat(path, options = { bigint: false }, callback) {
   if (typeof options === 'function') {
     callback = options;
-    options = {};
+    options = kEmptyObject;
   }
   callback = makeStatsCallback(callback);
   path = getValidatedPath(path);
@@ -1498,7 +1504,7 @@ function lstat(path, options = { bigint: false }, callback) {
 function stat(path, options = { bigint: false }, callback) {
   if (typeof options === 'function') {
     callback = options;
-    options = {};
+    options = kEmptyObject;
   }
   callback = makeStatsCallback(callback);
   path = getValidatedPath(path);
@@ -1596,7 +1602,7 @@ function statSync(path, options = { bigint: false, throwIfNoEntry: true }) {
  */
 function readlink(path, options, callback) {
   callback = makeCallback(typeof options === 'function' ? options : callback);
-  options = getOptions(options, {});
+  options = getOptions(options);
   path = getValidatedPath(path, 'oldPath');
   const req = new FSReqCallback();
   req.oncomplete = callback;
@@ -1611,7 +1617,7 @@ function readlink(path, options, callback) {
  * @returns {string | Buffer}
  */
 function readlinkSync(path, options) {
-  options = getOptions(options, {});
+  options = getOptions(options);
   path = getValidatedPath(path, 'oldPath');
   const ctx = { path };
   const result = binding.readlink(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
@@ -2282,7 +2288,7 @@ function watch(filename, options, listener) {
   if (typeof options === 'function') {
     listener = options;
   }
-  options = getOptions(options, {});
+  options = getOptions(options);
 
   // Don't make changes directly on options object
   options = copyObject(options);
@@ -2445,8 +2451,6 @@ if (isWindows) {
   };
 }
 
-const emptyObj = ObjectCreate(null);
-
 /**
  * Returns the resolved pathname.
  * @param {string | Buffer | URL} p
@@ -2454,7 +2458,7 @@ const emptyObj = ObjectCreate(null);
  * @returns {string | Buffer}
  */
 function realpathSync(p, options) {
-  options = getOptions(options, emptyObj);
+  options = getOptions(options);
   p = toPathIfFileURL(p);
   if (typeof p !== 'string') {
     p += '';
@@ -2591,7 +2595,7 @@ function realpathSync(p, options) {
  * @returns {string | Buffer}
  */
 realpathSync.native = (path, options) => {
-  options = getOptions(options, {});
+  options = getOptions(options);
   path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const ctx = { path };
   const result = binding.realpath(path, options.encoding, undefined, ctx);
@@ -2612,7 +2616,7 @@ realpathSync.native = (path, options) => {
  */
 function realpath(p, options, callback) {
   callback = typeof options === 'function' ? options : maybeCallback(callback);
-  options = getOptions(options, {});
+  options = getOptions(options);
   p = toPathIfFileURL(p);
 
   if (typeof p !== 'string') {
@@ -2750,7 +2754,7 @@ function realpath(p, options, callback) {
  */
 realpath.native = (path, options, callback) => {
   callback = makeCallback(callback || options);
-  options = getOptions(options, {});
+  options = getOptions(options);
   path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const req = new FSReqCallback();
   req.oncomplete = callback;
@@ -2769,7 +2773,7 @@ realpath.native = (path, options, callback) => {
  */
 function mkdtemp(prefix, options, callback) {
   callback = makeCallback(typeof options === 'function' ? options : callback);
-  options = getOptions(options, {});
+  options = getOptions(options);
 
   validateString(prefix, 'prefix');
   nullCheck(prefix, 'prefix');
@@ -2786,7 +2790,7 @@ function mkdtemp(prefix, options, callback) {
  * @returns {string}
  */
 function mkdtempSync(prefix, options) {
-  options = getOptions(options, {});
+  options = getOptions(options);
 
   validateString(prefix, 'prefix');
   nullCheck(prefix, 'prefix');
diff --git a/lib/internal/fs/promises.js b/lib/internal/fs/promises.js
index e157df112b85ea..9e9efcf3e276b1 100644
--- a/lib/internal/fs/promises.js
+++ b/lib/internal/fs/promises.js
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ const {
   Error,
   MathMax,
   MathMin,
-  ObjectCreate,
   NumberIsSafeInteger,
   Promise,
   PromisePrototypeThen,
@@ -78,7 +77,11 @@ const {
   validateString,
 } = require('internal/validators');
 const pathModule = require('path');
-const { lazyDOMException, promisify } = require('internal/util');
+const {
+  kEmptyObject,
+  lazyDOMException,
+  promisify,
+} = require('internal/util');
 const { EventEmitterMixin } = require('internal/event_target');
 const { watch } = require('internal/fs/watchers');
 const { isIterable } = require('internal/streams/utils');
@@ -467,7 +470,7 @@ async function read(handle, bufferOrParams, offset, length, position) {
       offset = 0,
       length = buffer.byteLength - offset,
       position = null,
-    } = bufferOrParams ?? ObjectCreate(null));
+    } = bufferOrParams ?? kEmptyObject);
 
     validateBuffer(buffer);
   }
@@ -530,7 +533,7 @@ async function write(handle, buffer, offsetOrOptions, length, position) {
         offset = 0,
         length = buffer.byteLength - offset,
         position = null,
-      } = offsetOrOptions ?? ObjectCreate(null));
+      } = offsetOrOptions ?? kEmptyObject);
     }
 
     if (offset == null) {
@@ -626,7 +629,7 @@ async function mkdir(path, options) {
   const {
     recursive = false,
     mode = 0o777
-  } = options || {};
+  } = options || kEmptyObject;
   path = getValidatedPath(path);
   validateBoolean(recursive, 'options.recursive');
 
@@ -636,7 +639,7 @@ async function mkdir(path, options) {
 }
 
 async function readdir(path, options) {
-  options = getOptions(options, {});
+  options = getOptions(options);
   path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const result = await binding.readdir(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
                                        options.encoding,
@@ -648,7 +651,7 @@ async function readdir(path, options) {
 }
 
 async function readlink(path, options) {
-  options = getOptions(options, {});
+  options = getOptions(options);
   path = getValidatedPath(path, 'oldPath');
   return binding.readlink(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
                           options.encoding, kUsePromises);
@@ -760,13 +763,13 @@ async function lutimes(path, atime, mtime) {
 }
 
 async function realpath(path, options) {
-  options = getOptions(options, {});
+  options = getOptions(options);
   path = getValidatedPath(path);
   return binding.realpath(path, options.encoding, kUsePromises);
 }
 
 async function mkdtemp(prefix, options) {
-  options = getOptions(options, {});
+  options = getOptions(options);
 
   validateString(prefix, 'prefix');
   nullCheck(prefix);
diff --git a/lib/internal/fs/streams.js b/lib/internal/fs/streams.js
index 8eb011dc0fc1e4..954cf6ae3c4466 100644
--- a/lib/internal/fs/streams.js
+++ b/lib/internal/fs/streams.js
@@ -16,7 +16,10 @@ const {
   ERR_OUT_OF_RANGE,
   ERR_METHOD_NOT_IMPLEMENTED,
 } = require('internal/errors').codes;
-const { deprecate } = require('internal/util');
+const {
+  deprecate,
+  kEmptyObject,
+} = require('internal/util');
 const {
   validateFunction,
   validateInteger,
@@ -150,7 +153,7 @@ function ReadStream(path, options) {
     return new ReadStream(path, options);
 
   // A little bit bigger buffer and water marks by default
-  options = copyObject(getOptions(options, {}));
+  options = copyObject(getOptions(options, kEmptyObject));
   if (options.highWaterMark === undefined)
     options.highWaterMark = 64 * 1024;
 
@@ -309,7 +312,7 @@ function WriteStream(path, options) {
   if (!(this instanceof WriteStream))
     return new WriteStream(path, options);
 
-  options = copyObject(getOptions(options, {}));
+  options = copyObject(getOptions(options, kEmptyObject));
 
   // Only buffers are supported.
   options.decodeStrings = true;
diff --git a/lib/internal/fs/sync_write_stream.js b/lib/internal/fs/sync_write_stream.js
index df366edce4716b..8fa5c56aaffc62 100644
--- a/lib/internal/fs/sync_write_stream.js
+++ b/lib/internal/fs/sync_write_stream.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ const {
   ObjectSetPrototypeOf,
   ReflectApply,
 } = primordials;
+const { kEmptyObject } = require('internal/util');
 
 const { Writable } = require('stream');
 const { closeSync, writeSync } = require('fs');
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ const { closeSync, writeSync } = require('fs');
 function SyncWriteStream(fd, options) {
   ReflectApply(Writable, this, [{ autoDestroy: true }]);
 
-  options = options || {};
+  options = options || kEmptyObject;
 
   this.fd = fd;
   this.readable = false;
diff --git a/lib/internal/fs/utils.js b/lib/internal/fs/utils.js
index e570b42da88204..9280fcfef7018e 100644
--- a/lib/internal/fs/utils.js
+++ b/lib/internal/fs/utils.js
@@ -43,7 +43,10 @@ const {
   isDate,
   isBigUint64Array
 } = require('internal/util/types');
-const { once } = require('internal/util');
+const {
+  kEmptyObject,
+  once,
+} = require('internal/util');
 const { toPathIfFileURL } = require('internal/url');
 const {
   validateAbortSignal,
@@ -312,9 +315,8 @@ function getDirent(path, name, type, callback) {
   }
 }
 
-function getOptions(options, defaultOptions) {
-  if (options === null || options === undefined ||
-      typeof options === 'function') {
+function getOptions(options, defaultOptions = kEmptyObject) {
+  if (options == null || typeof options === 'function') {
     return defaultOptions;
   }