diff --git a/src/test/cli.ts b/src/test/cli.ts
index d6bc126cf6..48b08f9fe8 100644
--- a/src/test/cli.ts
+++ b/src/test/cli.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ const defaultReporter = process.env.CI ? 'dot' : 'list';
 const builtinReporters = ['list', 'line', 'dot', 'json', 'junit', 'null'];
 const tsConfig = 'playwright.config.ts';
 const jsConfig = 'playwright.config.js';
+const mjsConfig = 'playwright.config.mjs';
 const defaultConfig: Config = {
   preserveOutput: 'always',
   reporter: [ [defaultReporter] ],
@@ -100,11 +101,11 @@ async function runTests(args: string[], opts: { [key: string]: any }) {
     overrides.use = { headless: false };
   const runner = new Runner(defaultConfig, overrides);
 
-  function loadConfig(configFile: string) {
+  async function loadConfig(configFile: string) {
     if (fs.existsSync(configFile)) {
       if (process.stdout.isTTY)
         console.log(`Using config at ` + configFile);
-      const loadedConfig = runner.loadConfigFile(configFile);
+      const loadedConfig = await runner.loadConfigFile(configFile);
       if (('projects' in loadedConfig) && opts.browser)
         throw new Error(`Cannot use --browser option when configuration file defines projects. Specify browserName in the projects instead.`);
       return true;
@@ -112,21 +113,30 @@ async function runTests(args: string[], opts: { [key: string]: any }) {
     return false;
   }
 
+  async function loadConfigFromDirectory(directory: string) {
+    const configNames = [tsConfig, jsConfig, mjsConfig];
+    for (const configName of configNames) {
+      if (await loadConfig(path.resolve(directory, configName)))
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
   if (opts.config) {
     const configFile = path.resolve(process.cwd(), opts.config);
     if (!fs.existsSync(configFile))
       throw new Error(`${opts.config} does not exist`);
     if (fs.statSync(configFile).isDirectory()) {
       // When passed a directory, look for a config file inside.
-      if (!loadConfig(path.join(configFile, tsConfig)) && !loadConfig(path.join(configFile, jsConfig))) {
+      if (!await loadConfigFromDirectory(configFile)) {
         // If there is no config, assume this as a root testing directory.
         runner.loadEmptyConfig(configFile);
       }
     } else {
       // When passed a file, it must be a config file.
-      loadConfig(configFile);
+      await loadConfig(configFile);
     }
-  } else if (!loadConfig(path.resolve(process.cwd(), tsConfig)) && !loadConfig(path.resolve(process.cwd(), jsConfig))) {
+  } else if (!await loadConfigFromDirectory(process.cwd())) {
     // No --config option, let's look for the config file in the current directory.
     // If not, scan the world.
     runner.loadEmptyConfig(process.cwd());
diff --git a/src/test/loader.ts b/src/test/loader.ts
index d425ca22bb..bfc24291c6 100644
--- a/src/test/loader.ts
+++ b/src/test/loader.ts
@@ -40,31 +40,26 @@ export class Loader {
     this._fullConfig = baseFullConfig;
   }
 
-  static deserialize(data: SerializedLoaderData): Loader {
+  static async deserialize(data: SerializedLoaderData): Promise<Loader> {
     const loader = new Loader(data.defaultConfig, data.overrides);
     if ('file' in data.configFile)
-      loader.loadConfigFile(data.configFile.file);
+      await loader.loadConfigFile(data.configFile.file);
     else
       loader.loadEmptyConfig(data.configFile.rootDir);
     return loader;
   }
 
-  loadConfigFile(file: string): Config {
+  async loadConfigFile(file: string): Promise<Config> {
     if (this._configFile)
       throw new Error('Cannot load two config files');
-    const revertBabelRequire = installTransform();
-    try {
-      let config = require(file);
-      if (config && typeof config === 'object' && ('default' in config))
-        config = config['default'];
-      this._config = config;
-      this._configFile = file;
-      const rawConfig = { ...config };
-      this._processConfigObject(path.dirname(file));
-      return rawConfig;
-    } finally {
-      revertBabelRequire();
-    }
+    let config = await this._requireOrImport(file);
+    if (config && typeof config === 'object' && ('default' in config))
+      config = config['default'];
+    this._config = config;
+    this._configFile = file;
+    const rawConfig = { ...config };
+    this._processConfigObject(path.dirname(file));
+    return rawConfig;
   }
 
   loadEmptyConfig(rootDir: string) {
@@ -113,57 +108,35 @@ export class Loader {
   async loadTestFile(file: string) {
     if (this._fileSuites.has(file))
       return this._fileSuites.get(file)!;
-    const revertBabelRequire = installTransform();
     try {
       const suite = new Suite('');
       suite._requireFile = file;
       suite.file = file;
       setCurrentlyLoadingFileSuite(suite);
-      if (file.endsWith('.mjs')) {
-        // eval to prevent typescript from transpiling us here.
-        await eval(`import(${JSON.stringify(url.pathToFileURL(file))})`);
-      } else {
-        require(file);
-      }
+      await this._requireOrImport(file);
       this._fileSuites.set(file, suite);
       return suite;
-    } catch (error) {
-      if (error instanceof SyntaxError && error.message.includes('Cannot use import statement outside a module'))
-        throw errorWithFile(file, 'JavaScript files must end with .mjs to use import.');
-
-      throw error;
     } finally {
-      revertBabelRequire();
       setCurrentlyLoadingFileSuite(undefined);
     }
   }
 
-  loadGlobalHook(file: string, name: string): (config: FullConfig) => any {
-    const revertBabelRequire = installTransform();
-    try {
-      let hook = require(file);
-      if (hook && typeof hook === 'object' && ('default' in hook))
-        hook = hook['default'];
-      if (typeof hook !== 'function')
-        throw errorWithFile(file, `${name} file must export a single function.`);
-      return hook;
-    } finally {
-      revertBabelRequire();
-    }
+  async loadGlobalHook(file: string, name: string): Promise<(config: FullConfig) => any> {
+    let hook = await this._requireOrImport(file);
+    if (hook && typeof hook === 'object' && ('default' in hook))
+      hook = hook['default'];
+    if (typeof hook !== 'function')
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `${name} file must export a single function.`);
+    return hook;
   }
 
-  loadReporter(file: string): new (arg?: any) => Reporter {
-    const revertBabelRequire = installTransform();
-    try {
-      let func = require(path.resolve(this._fullConfig.rootDir, file));
-      if (func && typeof func === 'object' && ('default' in func))
-        func = func['default'];
-      if (typeof func !== 'function')
-        throw errorWithFile(file, `reporter file must export a single class.`);
-      return func;
-    } finally {
-      revertBabelRequire();
-    }
+  async loadReporter(file: string): Promise<new (arg?: any) => Reporter> {
+    let func = await this._requireOrImport(path.resolve(this._fullConfig.rootDir, file));
+    if (func && typeof func === 'object' && ('default' in func))
+      func = func['default'];
+    if (typeof func !== 'function')
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `reporter file must export a single class.`);
+    return func;
   }
 
   fullConfig(): FullConfig {
@@ -209,6 +182,33 @@ export class Loader {
     };
     this._projects.push(new ProjectImpl(fullProject, this._projects.length));
   }
+
+
+  private async _requireOrImport(file: string) {
+    const revertBabelRequire = installTransform();
+    try {
+      const esmImport = () => eval(`import(${JSON.stringify(url.pathToFileURL(file))})`);
+      if (file.endsWith('.mjs')) {
+        return await esmImport();
+      } else {
+        try {
+          return require(file);
+        } catch (e) {
+          // Attempt to load this module as ESM if a normal require didn't work.
+          if (e.code === 'ERR_REQUIRE_ESM')
+            return await esmImport();
+          throw e;
+        }
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      if (error instanceof SyntaxError && error.message.includes('Cannot use import statement outside a module'))
+        throw errorWithFile(file, 'JavaScript files must end with .mjs to use import.');
+
+      throw error;
+    } finally {
+      revertBabelRequire();
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 function takeFirst<T>(...args: (T | undefined)[]): T {
diff --git a/src/test/runner.ts b/src/test/runner.ts
index 5d2cb3becb..12b6ac53a6 100644
--- a/src/test/runner.ts
+++ b/src/test/runner.ts
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ export class Runner {
     this._loader = new Loader(defaultConfig, configOverrides);
   }
 
-  private _createReporter() {
+  private async _createReporter() {
     const reporters: Reporter[] = [];
     const defaultReporters = {
       dot: DotReporter,
@@ -77,14 +77,14 @@ export class Runner {
       if (name in defaultReporters) {
         reporters.push(new defaultReporters[name as keyof typeof defaultReporters](arg));
       } else {
-        const reporterConstructor = this._loader.loadReporter(name);
+        const reporterConstructor = await this._loader.loadReporter(name);
         reporters.push(new reporterConstructor(arg));
       }
     }
     return new Multiplexer(reporters);
   }
 
-  loadConfigFile(file: string): Config {
+  loadConfigFile(file: string): Promise<Config> {
     return this._loader.loadConfigFile(file);
   }
 
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ export class Runner {
   }
 
   async run(list: boolean, filePatternFilters: FilePatternFilter[], projectName?: string): Promise<RunResultStatus> {
-    this._reporter = this._createReporter();
+    this._reporter = await this._createReporter();
     const config = this._loader.fullConfig();
     const globalDeadline = config.globalTimeout ? config.globalTimeout + monotonicTime() : undefined;
     const { result, timedOut } = await raceAgainstDeadline(this._run(list, filePatternFilters, projectName), globalDeadline);
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ export class Runner {
 
     let globalSetupResult: any;
     if (config.globalSetup)
-      globalSetupResult = await this._loader.loadGlobalHook(config.globalSetup, 'globalSetup')(this._loader.fullConfig());
+      globalSetupResult = await (await this._loader.loadGlobalHook(config.globalSetup, 'globalSetup'))(this._loader.fullConfig());
     const webServer: WebServer|null = config.webServer ? await WebServer.create(config.webServer) : null;
     try {
       for (const file of allTestFiles)
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ export class Runner {
       if (globalSetupResult && typeof globalSetupResult === 'function')
         await globalSetupResult(this._loader.fullConfig());
       if (config.globalTeardown)
-        await this._loader.loadGlobalHook(config.globalTeardown, 'globalTeardown')(this._loader.fullConfig());
+        await (await this._loader.loadGlobalHook(config.globalTeardown, 'globalTeardown'))(this._loader.fullConfig());
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/test/workerRunner.ts b/src/test/workerRunner.ts
index 463f6c4120..9672fab677 100644
--- a/src/test/workerRunner.ts
+++ b/src/test/workerRunner.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ export class WorkerRunner extends EventEmitter {
 
   async cleanup() {
     // We have to load the project to get the right deadline below.
-    this._loadIfNeeded();
+    await this._loadIfNeeded();
     // TODO: separate timeout for teardown?
     const result = await raceAgainstDeadline((async () => {
       await this._fixtureRunner.teardownScope('test');
@@ -89,11 +89,11 @@ export class WorkerRunner extends EventEmitter {
     return this._project.config.timeout ? monotonicTime() + this._project.config.timeout : undefined;
   }
 
-  private _loadIfNeeded() {
+  private async _loadIfNeeded() {
     if (this._loader)
       return;
 
-    this._loader = Loader.deserialize(this._params.loader);
+    this._loader = await Loader.deserialize(this._params.loader);
     this._project = this._loader.projects()[this._params.projectIndex];
 
     this._projectNamePathSegment = sanitizeForFilePath(this._project.config.name);
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ export class WorkerRunner extends EventEmitter {
   async run(runPayload: RunPayload) {
     this._entries = new Map(runPayload.entries.map(e => [ e.testId, e ]));
 
-    this._loadIfNeeded();
+    await this._loadIfNeeded();
     const fileSuite = await this._loader.loadTestFile(runPayload.file);
     let anySpec: Spec | undefined;
     fileSuite.findSpec(spec => {
diff --git a/tests/playwright-test/loader.spec.ts b/tests/playwright-test/loader.spec.ts
index 0ed6ba8675..22cafc6fb4 100644
--- a/tests/playwright-test/loader.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/playwright-test/loader.spec.ts
@@ -176,3 +176,42 @@ test('should throw a nice error if a js file uses import', async ({ runInlineTes
   expect(output).toContain('a.spec.js');
   expect(output).toContain('JavaScript files must end with .mjs to use import.');
 });
+
+test('should load esm when package.json has type module', async ({ runInlineTest }) => {
+  const result = await runInlineTest({
+    'playwright.config.js': `
+      //@no-header
+      import * as fs from 'fs';
+      export default { projects: [{name: 'foo'}] };
+    `,
+    'package.json': JSON.stringify({type: 'module'}),
+    'a.test.ts': `
+      const { test } = pwt;
+      test('check project name', ({}, testInfo) => {
+        expect(testInfo.project.name).toBe('foo');
+      });
+    `
+  });
+
+  expect(result.exitCode).toBe(0);
+  expect(result.passed).toBe(1);
+});
+
+test('should load esm config files', async ({ runInlineTest }) => {
+  const result = await runInlineTest({
+    'playwright.config.mjs': `
+      //@no-header
+      import * as fs from 'fs';
+      export default { projects: [{name: 'foo'}] };
+    `,
+    'a.test.ts': `
+      const { test } = pwt;
+      test('check project name', ({}, testInfo) => {
+        expect(testInfo.project.name).toBe('foo');
+      });
+    `
+  });
+
+  expect(result.exitCode).toBe(0);
+  expect(result.passed).toBe(1);
+});
diff --git a/tests/playwright-test/playwright-test-fixtures.ts b/tests/playwright-test/playwright-test-fixtures.ts
index 98a98be9ed..e63080ae45 100644
--- a/tests/playwright-test/playwright-test-fixtures.ts
+++ b/tests/playwright-test/playwright-test-fixtures.ts
@@ -76,7 +76,9 @@ async function writeFiles(testInfo: TestInfo, files: Files) {
     const isTypeScriptSourceFile = name.endsWith('.ts') && !name.endsWith('.d.ts');
     const isJSModule = name.endsWith('.mjs');
     const header = isTypeScriptSourceFile ? headerTS : (isJSModule ? headerMJS : headerJS);
-    if (/(spec|test)\.(js|ts|mjs)$/.test(name)) {
+    if (typeof files[name] === 'string' && files[name].includes('//@no-header')) {
+      await fs.promises.writeFile(fullName, files[name]);
+    } else if (/(spec|test)\.(js|ts|mjs)$/.test(name)) {
       const fileHeader = header + 'const { expect } = pwt;\n';
       await fs.promises.writeFile(fullName, fileHeader + files[name]);
     } else if (/\.(js|ts)$/.test(name) && !name.endsWith('d.ts')) {