diff --git a/packages/playwright-test/src/loader.ts b/packages/playwright-test/src/loader.ts
index 9ad9b10570..766217f422 100644
--- a/packages/playwright-test/src/loader.ts
+++ b/packages/playwright-test/src/loader.ts
@@ -289,9 +289,6 @@ export class Loader {
 ${'='.repeat(80)}\n`);
       }
 
-      if (error instanceof SyntaxError && error.message.includes('Cannot use import statement outside a module'))
-        throw errorWithFile(file, 'JavaScript files must end with .mjs to use import.');
-
       throw error;
     } finally {
       revertBabelRequire();
diff --git a/tests/playwright-test/loader.spec.ts b/tests/playwright-test/loader.spec.ts
index ceb63a97a3..5245e642ac 100644
--- a/tests/playwright-test/loader.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/playwright-test/loader.spec.ts
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ test('should throw a nice error if a js file uses import', async ({ runInlineTes
   });
   expect(exitCode).toBe(1);
   expect(output).toContain('a.spec.js');
-  expect(output).toContain('JavaScript files must end with .mjs to use import.');
+  expect(output).toContain('Cannot use import statement outside a module');
 });
 
 test('should load esm when package.json has type module', async ({ runInlineTest }) => {