diff --git a/lib/fs.js b/lib/fs.js
index 1b8ad7636ed..7a31e26ccb1 100644
--- a/lib/fs.js
+++ b/lib/fs.js
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ const {
   Dirent,
   getDirents,
   getOptions,
+  getValidatedPath,
   nullCheck,
   preprocessSymlinkDestination,
   Stats,
@@ -164,8 +165,7 @@ function access(path, mode, callback) {
     mode = F_OK;
   }
 
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
 
   mode = mode | 0;
   const req = new FSReqCallback();
@@ -174,8 +174,7 @@ function access(path, mode, callback) {
 }
 
 function accessSync(path, mode) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
 
   if (mode === undefined)
     mode = F_OK;
@@ -215,8 +214,7 @@ Object.defineProperty(exists, internalUtil.promisify.custom, {
 // TODO(joyeecheung): deprecate the never-throw-on-invalid-arguments behavior
 function existsSync(path) {
   try {
-    path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-    validatePath(path);
+    path = getValidatedPath(path);
   } catch {
     return false;
   }
@@ -285,8 +283,7 @@ function readFile(path, options, callback) {
     return;
   }
 
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   binding.open(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
                stringToFlags(options.flag || 'r'),
                0o666,
@@ -397,8 +394,7 @@ function closeSync(fd) {
 }
 
 function open(path, flags, mode, callback) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   if (arguments.length < 3) {
     callback = flags;
     flags = 'r';
@@ -424,8 +420,7 @@ function open(path, flags, mode, callback) {
 
 
 function openSync(path, flags, mode) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const flagsNumber = stringToFlags(flags || 'r');
   mode = parseMode(mode, 'mode', 0o666);
 
@@ -580,10 +575,8 @@ function writeSync(fd, buffer, offset, length, position) {
 
 function rename(oldPath, newPath, callback) {
   callback = makeCallback(callback);
-  oldPath = toPathIfFileURL(oldPath);
-  validatePath(oldPath, 'oldPath');
-  newPath = toPathIfFileURL(newPath);
-  validatePath(newPath, 'newPath');
+  oldPath = getValidatedPath(oldPath, 'oldPath');
+  newPath = getValidatedPath(newPath, 'newPath');
   const req = new FSReqCallback();
   req.oncomplete = callback;
   binding.rename(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(oldPath),
@@ -592,10 +585,8 @@ function rename(oldPath, newPath, callback) {
 }
 
 function renameSync(oldPath, newPath) {
-  oldPath = toPathIfFileURL(oldPath);
-  validatePath(oldPath, 'oldPath');
-  newPath = toPathIfFileURL(newPath);
-  validatePath(newPath, 'newPath');
+  oldPath = getValidatedPath(oldPath, 'oldPath');
+  newPath = getValidatedPath(newPath, 'newPath');
   const ctx = { path: oldPath, dest: newPath };
   binding.rename(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(oldPath),
                  pathModule.toNamespacedPath(newPath), undefined, ctx);
@@ -673,16 +664,14 @@ function ftruncateSync(fd, len = 0) {
 
 function rmdir(path, callback) {
   callback = makeCallback(callback);
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const req = new FSReqCallback();
   req.oncomplete = callback;
   binding.rmdir(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path), req);
 }
 
 function rmdirSync(path) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const ctx = { path };
   binding.rmdir(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path), undefined, ctx);
   handleErrorFromBinding(ctx);
@@ -728,9 +717,8 @@ function mkdir(path, options, callback) {
     mode = 0o777
   } = options || {};
   callback = makeCallback(callback);
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
 
-  validatePath(path);
   if (typeof recursive !== 'boolean')
     throw new ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE('recursive', 'boolean', recursive);
 
@@ -744,13 +732,12 @@ function mkdirSync(path, options) {
   if (typeof options === 'number' || typeof options === 'string') {
     options = { mode: options };
   }
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
   const {
     recursive = false,
     mode = 0o777
   } = options || {};
 
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   if (typeof recursive !== 'boolean')
     throw new ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE('recursive', 'boolean', recursive);
 
@@ -764,8 +751,7 @@ function mkdirSync(path, options) {
 function readdir(path, options, callback) {
   callback = makeCallback(typeof options === 'function' ? options : callback);
   options = getOptions(options, {});
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
 
   const req = new FSReqCallback();
   if (!options.withFileTypes) {
@@ -785,8 +771,7 @@ function readdir(path, options, callback) {
 
 function readdirSync(path, options) {
   options = getOptions(options, {});
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const ctx = { path };
   const result = binding.readdir(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
                                  options.encoding, !!options.withFileTypes,
@@ -812,8 +797,7 @@ function lstat(path, options, callback) {
     options = {};
   }
   callback = makeStatsCallback(callback);
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const req = new FSReqCallback(options.bigint);
   req.oncomplete = callback;
   binding.lstat(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path), options.bigint, req);
@@ -825,8 +809,7 @@ function stat(path, options, callback) {
     options = {};
   }
   callback = makeStatsCallback(callback);
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const req = new FSReqCallback(options.bigint);
   req.oncomplete = callback;
   binding.stat(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path), options.bigint, req);
@@ -841,8 +824,7 @@ function fstatSync(fd, options = {}) {
 }
 
 function lstatSync(path, options = {}) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const ctx = { path };
   const stats = binding.lstat(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
                               options.bigint, undefined, ctx);
@@ -851,8 +833,7 @@ function lstatSync(path, options = {}) {
 }
 
 function statSync(path, options = {}) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const ctx = { path };
   const stats = binding.stat(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
                              options.bigint, undefined, ctx);
@@ -863,8 +844,7 @@ function statSync(path, options = {}) {
 function readlink(path, options, callback) {
   callback = makeCallback(typeof options === 'function' ? options : callback);
   options = getOptions(options, {});
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path, 'oldPath');
+  path = getValidatedPath(path, 'oldPath');
   const req = new FSReqCallback();
   req.oncomplete = callback;
   binding.readlink(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path), options.encoding, req);
@@ -872,8 +852,7 @@ function readlink(path, options, callback) {
 
 function readlinkSync(path, options) {
   options = getOptions(options, {});
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path, 'oldPath');
+  path = getValidatedPath(path, 'oldPath');
   const ctx = { path };
   const result = binding.readlink(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
                                   options.encoding, undefined, ctx);
@@ -885,10 +864,8 @@ function symlink(target, path, type_, callback_) {
   const type = (typeof type_ === 'string' ? type_ : null);
   const callback = makeCallback(arguments[arguments.length - 1]);
 
-  target = toPathIfFileURL(target);
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(target, 'target');
-  validatePath(path);
+  target = getValidatedPath(target, 'target');
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
 
   const req = new FSReqCallback();
   req.oncomplete = callback;
@@ -931,10 +908,8 @@ function symlinkSync(target, path, type) {
       }
     } catch { }
   }
-  target = toPathIfFileURL(target);
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(target, 'target');
-  validatePath(path);
+  target = getValidatedPath(target, 'target');
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const flags = stringToSymlinkType(type);
 
   const ctx = { path: target, dest: path };
@@ -947,10 +922,8 @@ function symlinkSync(target, path, type) {
 function link(existingPath, newPath, callback) {
   callback = makeCallback(callback);
 
-  existingPath = toPathIfFileURL(existingPath);
-  newPath = toPathIfFileURL(newPath);
-  validatePath(existingPath, 'existingPath');
-  validatePath(newPath, 'newPath');
+  existingPath = getValidatedPath(existingPath, 'existingPath');
+  newPath = getValidatedPath(newPath, 'newPath');
 
   const req = new FSReqCallback();
   req.oncomplete = callback;
@@ -961,10 +934,8 @@ function link(existingPath, newPath, callback) {
 }
 
 function linkSync(existingPath, newPath) {
-  existingPath = toPathIfFileURL(existingPath);
-  newPath = toPathIfFileURL(newPath);
-  validatePath(existingPath, 'existingPath');
-  validatePath(newPath, 'newPath');
+  existingPath = getValidatedPath(existingPath, 'existingPath');
+  newPath = getValidatedPath(newPath, 'newPath');
 
   const ctx = { path: existingPath, dest: newPath };
   const result = binding.link(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(existingPath),
@@ -976,16 +947,14 @@ function linkSync(existingPath, newPath) {
 
 function unlink(path, callback) {
   callback = makeCallback(callback);
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const req = new FSReqCallback();
   req.oncomplete = callback;
   binding.unlink(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path), req);
 }
 
 function unlinkSync(path) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const ctx = { path };
   binding.unlink(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path), undefined, ctx);
   handleErrorFromBinding(ctx);
@@ -1042,8 +1011,7 @@ function lchmodSync(path, mode) {
 
 
 function chmod(path, mode, callback) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   mode = parseMode(mode, 'mode');
   callback = makeCallback(callback);
 
@@ -1053,8 +1021,7 @@ function chmod(path, mode, callback) {
 }
 
 function chmodSync(path, mode) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   mode = parseMode(mode, 'mode');
 
   const ctx = { path };
@@ -1064,8 +1031,7 @@ function chmodSync(path, mode) {
 
 function lchown(path, uid, gid, callback) {
   callback = makeCallback(callback);
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   validateUint32(uid, 'uid');
   validateUint32(gid, 'gid');
   const req = new FSReqCallback();
@@ -1074,8 +1040,7 @@ function lchown(path, uid, gid, callback) {
 }
 
 function lchownSync(path, uid, gid) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   validateUint32(uid, 'uid');
   validateUint32(gid, 'gid');
   const ctx = { path };
@@ -1105,8 +1070,7 @@ function fchownSync(fd, uid, gid) {
 
 function chown(path, uid, gid, callback) {
   callback = makeCallback(callback);
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   validateUint32(uid, 'uid');
   validateUint32(gid, 'gid');
 
@@ -1116,8 +1080,7 @@ function chown(path, uid, gid, callback) {
 }
 
 function chownSync(path, uid, gid) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   validateUint32(uid, 'uid');
   validateUint32(gid, 'gid');
   const ctx = { path };
@@ -1127,8 +1090,7 @@ function chownSync(path, uid, gid) {
 
 function utimes(path, atime, mtime, callback) {
   callback = makeCallback(callback);
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
 
   const req = new FSReqCallback();
   req.oncomplete = callback;
@@ -1139,8 +1101,7 @@ function utimes(path, atime, mtime, callback) {
 }
 
 function utimesSync(path, atime, mtime) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const ctx = { path };
   binding.utimes(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
                  toUnixTimestamp(atime), toUnixTimestamp(mtime),
@@ -1306,8 +1267,7 @@ function watch(filename, options, listener) {
 const statWatchers = new Map();
 
 function watchFile(filename, options, listener) {
-  filename = toPathIfFileURL(filename);
-  validatePath(filename);
+  filename = getValidatedPath(filename);
   filename = pathModule.resolve(filename);
   let stat;
 
@@ -1344,8 +1304,7 @@ function watchFile(filename, options, listener) {
 }
 
 function unwatchFile(filename, listener) {
-  filename = toPathIfFileURL(filename);
-  validatePath(filename);
+  filename = getValidatedPath(filename);
   filename = pathModule.resolve(filename);
   const stat = statWatchers.get(filename);
 
@@ -1548,8 +1507,7 @@ function realpathSync(p, options) {
 
 realpathSync.native = (path, options) => {
   options = getOptions(options, {});
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const ctx = { path };
   const result = binding.realpath(path, options.encoding, undefined, ctx);
   handleErrorFromBinding(ctx);
@@ -1690,8 +1648,7 @@ function realpath(p, options, callback) {
 realpath.native = (path, options, callback) => {
   callback = makeCallback(callback || options);
   options = getOptions(options, {});
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const req = new FSReqCallback();
   req.oncomplete = callback;
   return binding.realpath(path, options.encoding, req);
@@ -1735,10 +1692,8 @@ function copyFile(src, dest, flags, callback) {
     throw new ERR_INVALID_CALLBACK(callback);
   }
 
-  src = toPathIfFileURL(src);
-  dest = toPathIfFileURL(dest);
-  validatePath(src, 'src');
-  validatePath(dest, 'dest');
+  src = getValidatedPath(src, 'src');
+  dest = getValidatedPath(dest, 'dest');
 
   src = pathModule._makeLong(src);
   dest = pathModule._makeLong(dest);
@@ -1750,10 +1705,8 @@ function copyFile(src, dest, flags, callback) {
 
 
 function copyFileSync(src, dest, flags) {
-  src = toPathIfFileURL(src);
-  dest = toPathIfFileURL(dest);
-  validatePath(src, 'src');
-  validatePath(dest, 'dest');
+  src = getValidatedPath(src, 'src');
+  dest = getValidatedPath(dest, 'dest');
 
   const ctx = { path: src, dest };  // non-prefixed
 
diff --git a/lib/internal/fs/promises.js b/lib/internal/fs/promises.js
index d4db169140b..42dbbcc361a 100644
--- a/lib/internal/fs/promises.js
+++ b/lib/internal/fs/promises.js
@@ -17,13 +17,13 @@ const {
   ERR_INVALID_ARG_VALUE,
   ERR_METHOD_NOT_IMPLEMENTED
 } = require('internal/errors').codes;
-const { toPathIfFileURL } = require('internal/url');
 const { isUint8Array } = require('internal/util/types');
 const {
   copyObject,
   getDirents,
   getOptions,
   getStatsFromBinding,
+  getValidatedPath,
   nullCheck,
   preprocessSymlinkDestination,
   stringToFlags,
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ const {
   toUnixTimestamp,
   validateOffsetLengthRead,
   validateOffsetLengthWrite,
-  validatePath,
   warnOnNonPortableTemplate
 } = require('internal/fs/utils');
 const {
@@ -175,8 +174,7 @@ async function readFileHandle(filehandle, options) {
 // All of the functions are defined as async in order to ensure that errors
 // thrown cause promise rejections rather than being thrown synchronously.
 async function access(path, mode = F_OK) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
 
   mode = mode | 0;
   return binding.access(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path), mode,
@@ -184,10 +182,8 @@ async function access(path, mode = F_OK) {
 }
 
 async function copyFile(src, dest, flags) {
-  src = toPathIfFileURL(src);
-  dest = toPathIfFileURL(dest);
-  validatePath(src, 'src');
-  validatePath(dest, 'dest');
+  src = getValidatedPath(src, 'src');
+  dest = getValidatedPath(dest, 'dest');
   flags = flags | 0;
   return binding.copyFile(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(src),
                           pathModule.toNamespacedPath(dest),
@@ -197,8 +193,7 @@ async function copyFile(src, dest, flags) {
 // Note that unlike fs.open() which uses numeric file descriptors,
 // fsPromises.open() uses the fs.FileHandle class.
 async function open(path, flags, mode) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   if (arguments.length < 2) flags = 'r';
   const flagsNumber = stringToFlags(flags);
   mode = parseMode(mode, 'mode', 0o666);
@@ -261,10 +256,8 @@ async function write(handle, buffer, offset, length, position) {
 }
 
 async function rename(oldPath, newPath) {
-  oldPath = toPathIfFileURL(oldPath);
-  newPath = toPathIfFileURL(newPath);
-  validatePath(oldPath, 'oldPath');
-  validatePath(newPath, 'newPath');
+  oldPath = getValidatedPath(oldPath, 'oldPath');
+  newPath = getValidatedPath(newPath, 'newPath');
   return binding.rename(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(oldPath),
                         pathModule.toNamespacedPath(newPath),
                         kUsePromises);
@@ -282,8 +275,7 @@ async function ftruncate(handle, len = 0) {
 }
 
 async function rmdir(path) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   return binding.rmdir(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path), kUsePromises);
 }
 
@@ -305,9 +297,7 @@ async function mkdir(path, options) {
     recursive = false,
     mode = 0o777
   } = options || {};
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   if (typeof recursive !== 'boolean')
     throw new ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE('recursive', 'boolean', recursive);
 
@@ -318,8 +308,7 @@ async function mkdir(path, options) {
 
 async function readdir(path, options) {
   options = getOptions(options, {});
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const result = await binding.readdir(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
                                        options.encoding,
                                        !!options.withFileTypes,
@@ -331,18 +320,15 @@ async function readdir(path, options) {
 
 async function readlink(path, options) {
   options = getOptions(options, {});
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path, 'oldPath');
+  path = getValidatedPath(path, 'oldPath');
   return binding.readlink(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
                           options.encoding, kUsePromises);
 }
 
 async function symlink(target, path, type_) {
   const type = (typeof type_ === 'string' ? type_ : null);
-  target = toPathIfFileURL(target);
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(target, 'target');
-  validatePath(path);
+  target = getValidatedPath(target, 'target');
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   return binding.symlink(preprocessSymlinkDestination(target, type, path),
                          pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
                          stringToSymlinkType(type),
@@ -356,34 +342,29 @@ async function fstat(handle, options = { bigint: false }) {
 }
 
 async function lstat(path, options = { bigint: false }) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const result = await binding.lstat(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
                                      options.bigint, kUsePromises);
   return getStatsFromBinding(result);
 }
 
 async function stat(path, options = { bigint: false }) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   const result = await binding.stat(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
                                     options.bigint, kUsePromises);
   return getStatsFromBinding(result);
 }
 
 async function link(existingPath, newPath) {
-  existingPath = toPathIfFileURL(existingPath);
-  newPath = toPathIfFileURL(newPath);
-  validatePath(existingPath, 'existingPath');
-  validatePath(newPath, 'newPath');
+  existingPath = getValidatedPath(existingPath, 'existingPath');
+  newPath = getValidatedPath(newPath, 'newPath');
   return binding.link(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(existingPath),
                       pathModule.toNamespacedPath(newPath),
                       kUsePromises);
 }
 
 async function unlink(path) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   return binding.unlink(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path), kUsePromises);
 }
 
@@ -394,8 +375,7 @@ async function fchmod(handle, mode) {
 }
 
 async function chmod(path, mode) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   mode = parseMode(mode, 'mode');
   return binding.chmod(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path), mode, kUsePromises);
 }
@@ -409,8 +389,7 @@ async function lchmod(path, mode) {
 }
 
 async function lchown(path, uid, gid) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   validateUint32(uid, 'uid');
   validateUint32(gid, 'gid');
   return binding.lchown(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
@@ -425,8 +404,7 @@ async function fchown(handle, uid, gid) {
 }
 
 async function chown(path, uid, gid) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   validateUint32(uid, 'uid');
   validateUint32(gid, 'gid');
   return binding.chown(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
@@ -434,8 +412,7 @@ async function chown(path, uid, gid) {
 }
 
 async function utimes(path, atime, mtime) {
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   return binding.utimes(pathModule.toNamespacedPath(path),
                         toUnixTimestamp(atime),
                         toUnixTimestamp(mtime),
@@ -451,8 +428,7 @@ async function futimes(handle, atime, mtime) {
 
 async function realpath(path, options) {
   options = getOptions(options, {});
-  path = toPathIfFileURL(path);
-  validatePath(path);
+  path = getValidatedPath(path);
   return binding.realpath(path, options.encoding, kUsePromises);
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/internal/fs/utils.js b/lib/internal/fs/utils.js
index dde78654e0f..4cb06690bf5 100644
--- a/lib/internal/fs/utils.js
+++ b/lib/internal/fs/utils.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ const {
   isDate
 } = require('internal/util/types');
 const { once } = require('internal/util');
+const { toPathIfFileURL } = require('internal/url');
 const pathModule = require('path');
 const kType = Symbol('type');
 const kStats = Symbol('stats');
@@ -433,6 +434,12 @@ const validatePath = hideStackFrames((path, propName = 'path') => {
   }
 });
 
+const getValidatedPath = hideStackFrames((fileURLOrPath, propName = 'path') => {
+  const path = toPathIfFileURL(fileURLOrPath);
+  validatePath(path, propName);
+  return path;
+});
+
 let nonPortableTemplateWarn = true;
 
 function warnOnNonPortableTemplate(template) {
@@ -470,6 +477,7 @@ module.exports = {
   Dirent,
   getDirents,
   getOptions,
+  getValidatedPath,
   nullCheck,
   preprocessSymlinkDestination,
   realpathCacheKey: Symbol('realpathCacheKey'),
diff --git a/lib/internal/fs/watchers.js b/lib/internal/fs/watchers.js
index d29ed902587..bde07cfdc59 100644
--- a/lib/internal/fs/watchers.js
+++ b/lib/internal/fs/watchers.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ const { UV_ENOSPC } = internalBinding('uv');
 const { EventEmitter } = require('events');
 const {
   getStatsFromBinding,
-  validatePath
+  getValidatedPath
 } = require('internal/fs/utils');
 const {
   defaultTriggerAsyncIdScope,
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ const {
 } = require('internal/async_hooks');
 const { toNamespacedPath } = require('path');
 const { validateUint32 } = require('internal/validators');
-const { toPathIfFileURL } = require('internal/url');
 const assert = require('internal/assert');
 
 const kOldStatus = Symbol('kOldStatus');
@@ -73,8 +72,7 @@ StatWatcher.prototype.start = function(filename, persistent, interval) {
   // the sake of backwards compatibility
   this[kOldStatus] = -1;
 
-  filename = toPathIfFileURL(filename);
-  validatePath(filename, 'filename');
+  filename = getValidatedPath(filename, 'filename');
   validateUint32(interval, 'interval');
   const err = this._handle.start(toNamespacedPath(filename), interval);
   if (err) {
@@ -157,8 +155,7 @@ FSWatcher.prototype.start = function(filename,
     return;
   }
 
-  filename = toPathIfFileURL(filename);
-  validatePath(filename, 'filename');
+  filename = getValidatedPath(filename, 'filename');
 
   const err = this._handle.start(toNamespacedPath(filename),
                                  persistent,
diff --git a/lib/v8.js b/lib/v8.js
index efce85533dd..2bede41291a 100644
--- a/lib/v8.js
+++ b/lib/v8.js
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@ const {
 const assert = require('internal/assert');
 const { copy } = internalBinding('buffer');
 const { FastBuffer } = require('internal/buffer');
-const { toPathIfFileURL } = require('internal/url');
-const { validatePath } = require('internal/fs/utils');
+const { getValidatedPath } = require('internal/fs/utils');
 const { toNamespacedPath } = require('path');
 const {
   createHeapSnapshotStream,
@@ -43,8 +42,7 @@ const kHandle = Symbol('kHandle');
 
 function writeHeapSnapshot(filename) {
   if (filename !== undefined) {
-    filename = toPathIfFileURL(filename);
-    validatePath(filename);
+    filename = getValidatedPath(filename);
     filename = toNamespacedPath(filename);
   }
   return triggerHeapSnapshot(filename);