diff --git a/lib/internal/fs/recursive_watch.js b/lib/internal/fs/recursive_watch.js
index 7d8b12eeb934..b16a1e3ed1cf 100644
--- a/lib/internal/fs/recursive_watch.js
+++ b/lib/internal/fs/recursive_watch.js
@@ -157,11 +157,20 @@ class FSWatcher extends EventEmitter {
       persistent: this.#options.persistent,
     }, (eventType, filename) => {
       const existingStat = this.#files.get(file);
-      const currentStats = statSync(file);
+      let currentStats;
+      try {
+        currentStats = statSync(file);
+      } catch (error) {
+        if (error.code === 'ENOENT') {
+          currentStats = false;
+        } else {
+          throw error;
+        }
+      }
 
       this.#files.set(file, currentStats);
 
-      if (currentStats.birthtimeMs === 0 && existingStat.birthtimeMs !== 0) {
+      if (!currentStats || (currentStats.birthtimeMs === 0 && existingStat.birthtimeMs !== 0)) {
         // The file is now deleted
         this.#files.delete(file);
         this.#watchers.delete(file);