diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/loader.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/loader.js
index 6351a0080..110712814 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/loader.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/loader.js
@@ -356,10 +356,19 @@ function loadNodeSet(node) {
     } else {
     }
     try {
-        var r = require(node.file);
-        // Babel related workaround, references in comment below.
-        r = r.__esModule ? r.default : r;
-        return createLoadPromise(node, r);
+        let importPromise = import(node.file);
+        return importPromise
+            .then(function(moduleNamespaceObject) {
+                // CJS will always have default, ESM might have default. (details in note below)
+                let r = moduleNamespaceObject.default ? moduleNamespaceObject.default : moduleNamespaceObject;
+                // Babel related workaround, references in comment below.
+                r = r.__esModule ? r.default : r;
+                return createLoadPromise(node, r);
+            })
+            .catch(function(err) {
+                node.err = err;
+                return Promise.resolve(node);
+            });
     } catch(err) {
         node.err = err;
         var stack = err.stack;
@@ -384,6 +393,12 @@ function loadNodeSet(node) {
         return Promise.resolve(node);
     }
 
+    // Notes on default:
+    // https://nodejs.org/api/esm.html#import-expressions
+    // "When importing CommonJS modules, the module.exports object is provided as the default export."
+    // https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Operators/import
+    // "The module namespace object is a sealed object ... with the default export available as a key called `default`."
+
     // Notes on __esModule:
     // Workaround originally added in commit 326f3469, merged in pull request #3669.
     // Related links:
diff --git a/test/unit/@node-red/registry/lib/loader_spec.js b/test/unit/@node-red/registry/lib/loader_spec.js
index b9da833c8..aec957b56 100644
--- a/test/unit/@node-red/registry/lib/loader_spec.js
+++ b/test/unit/@node-red/registry/lib/loader_spec.js
@@ -626,7 +626,7 @@ describe("red/nodes/registry/loader",function() {
                 node.enabled.should.be.true();
                 nodes.registerType.called.should.be.false();
                 node.should.have.property('err');
-                node.err.toString().should.eql("Error: fail to require (line:1)");
+                node.err.toString().should.eql("Error: fail to require");
 
                 done();
             }).catch(function(err) {