diff --git a/lib/internal/child_process.js b/lib/internal/child_process.js
index 68b4b447f68ad7..44d19966768587 100644
--- a/lib/internal/child_process.js
+++ b/lib/internal/child_process.js
@@ -22,7 +22,11 @@ const {
     ERR_MISSING_ARGS
   }
 } = require('internal/errors');
-const { validateString, validateOneOf } = require('internal/validators');
+const {
+  validateArray,
+  validateOneOf,
+  validateString,
+} = require('internal/validators');
 const EventEmitter = require('events');
 const net = require('net');
 const dgram = require('dgram');
@@ -356,11 +360,8 @@ ChildProcess.prototype.spawn = function(options) {
     // Let child process know about opened IPC channel
     if (options.envPairs === undefined)
       options.envPairs = [];
-    else if (!ArrayIsArray(options.envPairs)) {
-      throw new ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE('options.envPairs',
-                                     'Array',
-                                     options.envPairs);
-    }
+    else
+      validateArray(options.envPairs, 'options.envPairs');
 
     options.envPairs.push(`NODE_CHANNEL_FD=${ipcFd}`);
     options.envPairs.push(`NODE_CHANNEL_SERIALIZATION_MODE=${serialization}`);