diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-release.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-release.yml
index 4709ee43..5b2d8c03 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-release.yml
@@ -87,20 +87,17 @@ jobs:
             os: windows-latest
             shell: cmd
         node-version:
-          - 18.17.0
-          - 18.x
-          - 20.5.0
+          - 20.17.0
           - 20.x
+          - 22.9.0
           - 22.x
         exclude:
           - platform: { name: macOS, os: macos-13, shell: bash }
-            node-version: 18.17.0
-          - platform: { name: macOS, os: macos-13, shell: bash }
-            node-version: 18.x
-          - platform: { name: macOS, os: macos-13, shell: bash }
-            node-version: 20.5.0
+            node-version: 20.17.0
           - platform: { name: macOS, os: macos-13, shell: bash }
             node-version: 20.x
+          - platform: { name: macOS, os: macos-13, shell: bash }
+            node-version: 22.9.0
           - platform: { name: macOS, os: macos-13, shell: bash }
             node-version: 22.x
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.platform.os }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index b934a8d5..3873d0b9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -68,20 +68,17 @@ jobs:
             os: windows-latest
             shell: cmd
         node-version:
-          - 18.17.0
-          - 18.x
-          - 20.5.0
+          - 20.17.0
           - 20.x
+          - 22.9.0
           - 22.x
         exclude:
           - platform: { name: macOS, os: macos-13, shell: bash }
-            node-version: 18.17.0
-          - platform: { name: macOS, os: macos-13, shell: bash }
-            node-version: 18.x
-          - platform: { name: macOS, os: macos-13, shell: bash }
-            node-version: 20.5.0
+            node-version: 20.17.0
           - platform: { name: macOS, os: macos-13, shell: bash }
             node-version: 20.x
+          - platform: { name: macOS, os: macos-13, shell: bash }
+            node-version: 22.9.0
           - platform: { name: macOS, os: macos-13, shell: bash }
             node-version: 22.x
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.platform.os }}
diff --git a/lib/util/import-or-require.js b/lib/util/import-or-require.js
index 0fb0ef4b..f9098ac2 100644
--- a/lib/util/import-or-require.js
+++ b/lib/util/import-or-require.js
@@ -14,9 +14,18 @@ const importOrRequire = async path => {
   let content = {}
   try {
     content = require(path)
+    // this is for node 22+
+    // istanbul ignore next
+    if (content.__esModule) {
+      return content.default
+    }
   } catch {
+    // istanbul ignore next
     try {
-      content = await import(pathToFileURL(path)).then(r => r.default)
+      // this is for node under 20
+      const results = await import(pathToFileURL(path))
+      // istanbul ignore next
+      return results.default
     } catch {
       // its ok if this fails since the content dir might only be to provide
       // other files. the index.js is optional
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index bf3462d0..006b970b 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@
     "prettier": true
   },
   "engines": {
-    "node": "^18.17.0 || >=20.5.0"
+    "node": "^20.17.0 || >=22.9.0"
   },
   "workspaces": [
     "workspace/test-workspace"
diff --git a/test/apply/esm.js b/test/apply/esm.js
index aeaa9f18..74eb5918 100644
--- a/test/apply/esm.js
+++ b/test/apply/esm.js
@@ -18,6 +18,6 @@ t.test('basic', async t => {
   })
   await s.apply()
 
-  const file = await s.readFile('file.js')
+  const file = await s.readFile('content_dir/file.js')
   t.match(file, 'var x = 1;')
 })
diff --git a/test/apply/import-or-require.js b/test/apply/import-or-require.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b486735c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/apply/import-or-require.js
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+const t = require('tap')
+const importOrRequire = require('../../lib/util/import-or-require.js')
+const path = require('path')
+
+t.test('importOrRequire', async t => {
+  const dir = t.testdir({
+    esm: {
+      'package.json': JSON.stringify({
+        type: 'module',
+      }),
+      'index.js': 'export default "type module";',
+    },
+    'esm.js': 'export default "esm";',
+    'mjs.mjs': 'export default "mjs";',
+    'cjs.cjs': 'module.exports = "cjs";',
+    'js.js': 'module.exports = "js";',
+    'invalid.js': 'invalid',
+  })
+
+  await Promise.all(
+    // double 'js' triggers the cache
+    ['mjs', 'cjs', 'js', 'js'].map(async type => {
+      const output = await importOrRequire(path.join(dir, `${type}.${type}`))
+      t.same(output, type)
+    }),
+  )
+})