diff --git a/lib/util.js b/lib/util.js
index b243c81dd50..80195c26722 100644
--- a/lib/util.js
+++ b/lib/util.js
@@ -38,14 +38,21 @@ const inspectDefaultOptions = Object.seal({
   breakLength: 60
 });
 
-const CIRCULAR_ERROR_MESSAGE = 'Converting circular structure to JSON';
-
+var CIRCULAR_ERROR_MESSAGE;
 var Debug;
 
 function tryStringify(arg) {
   try {
     return JSON.stringify(arg);
   } catch (err) {
+    // Populate the circular error message lazily
+    if (!CIRCULAR_ERROR_MESSAGE) {
+      try {
+        const a = {}; a.a = a; JSON.stringify(a);
+      } catch (err) {
+        CIRCULAR_ERROR_MESSAGE = err.message;
+      }
+    }
     if (err.name === 'TypeError' && err.message === CIRCULAR_ERROR_MESSAGE)
       return '[Circular]';
     throw err;