diff --git a/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js b/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
index 7e6cad0f6f3388..75dab92794795a 100644
--- a/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
+++ b/lib/internal/modules/cjs/loader.js
@@ -539,6 +539,14 @@ function resolveExports(nmPath, request) {
 }
 
 const trailingSlashRegex = /(?:^|\/)\.?\.$/;
+const nixRelativeCheck = /^\.\.?(?:[/]|$)/;
+const windowsRelativeCheck = /^\.\.?(?:[/\\]|$)/;
+/**
+ * @param {string} request a relative or absolute file path
+ * @param {Array<string>} paths file system directories to search as file paths
+ * @param {boolean} isMain if the request is the main app entry point
+ * @returns {string | false}
+ */
 Module._findPath = function(request, paths, isMain) {
   const absoluteRequest = path.isAbsolute(request);
   if (absoluteRequest) {
@@ -560,11 +568,20 @@ Module._findPath = function(request, paths, isMain) {
     trailingSlash = RegExpPrototypeExec(trailingSlashRegex, request) !== null;
   }
 
+  const isRelative = RegExpPrototypeExec(isWindows ? windowsRelativeCheck : nixRelativeCheck, request) !== null;
+  let insidePath = true;
+  if (isRelative) {
+    const normalizedRequest = path.normalize(request);
+    if (StringPrototypeStartsWith(normalizedRequest, '..')) {
+      insidePath = false;
+    }
+  }
+
   // For each path
   for (let i = 0; i < paths.length; i++) {
-    // Don't search further if path doesn't exist
+    // Don't search further if path doesn't exist and request is inside the path
     const curPath = paths[i];
-    if (curPath && _stat(curPath) < 1) continue;
+    if (insidePath && curPath && _stat(curPath) < 1) continue;
 
     if (!absoluteRequest) {
       const exportsResolved = resolveExports(curPath, request);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-require-enoent-dir.js b/test/parallel/test-require-enoent-dir.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..519c3e4ea720a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/parallel/test-require-enoent-dir.js
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const common = require('../common');
+const tmpdir = require('../common/tmpdir');
+const assert = require('assert');
+const fs = require('fs');
+const path = require('path');
+
+tmpdir.refresh();
+
+const fooPath = path.join(tmpdir.path, 'foo.cjs');
+fs.writeFileSync(fooPath, '');
+
+const dirPath = path.join(tmpdir.path, 'delete_me');
+fs.mkdirSync(dirPath, {
+  recursive: true
+});
+
+const barPath = path.join(dirPath, 'bar.cjs');
+fs.writeFileSync(barPath, `
+    module.exports = () => require('../foo.cjs').call()
+`);
+
+const foo = require(fooPath);
+const unique = Symbol('unique');
+foo.call = common.mustCall(() => unique);
+const bar = require(barPath);
+
+fs.rmSync(dirPath, { recursive: true });
+assert.strict.equal(bar(), unique);