diff --git a/test/abort/test-abort-fatal-error.js b/test/abort/test-abort-fatal-error.js
index 6c197ceb028..be7d3c6f65c 100644
--- a/test/abort/test-abort-fatal-error.js
+++ b/test/abort/test-abort-fatal-error.js
@@ -27,11 +27,12 @@ if (common.isWindows)
 const assert = require('assert');
 const exec = require('child_process').exec;
 
-let cmdline = `ulimit -c 0; ${process.execPath}`;
-cmdline += ' --max-old-space-size=16 --max-semi-space-size=4';
-cmdline += ' -e "a = []; for (i = 0; i < 1e9; i++) { a.push({}) }"';
+const cmdline =
+  common.escapePOSIXShell`ulimit -c 0; "${
+    process.execPath
+  }" --max-old-space-size=16 --max-semi-space-size=4 -e "a = []; for (i = 0; i < 1e9; i++) { a.push({}) }"`;
 
-exec(cmdline, function(err, stdout, stderr) {
+exec(...cmdline, common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
   if (!err) {
     console.log(stdout);
     console.log(stderr);
@@ -39,4 +40,4 @@ exec(cmdline, function(err, stdout, stderr) {
   }
 
   assert(common.nodeProcessAborted(err.code, err.signal));
-});
+}));
diff --git a/test/async-hooks/test-callback-error.js b/test/async-hooks/test-callback-error.js
index f6af8e0018d..ad70feb70c9 100644
--- a/test/async-hooks/test-callback-error.js
+++ b/test/async-hooks/test-callback-error.js
@@ -62,12 +62,14 @@ assert.ok(!arg);
   let program = process.execPath;
   let args = [
     '--abort-on-uncaught-exception', __filename, 'test_callback_abort' ];
-  const options = { encoding: 'utf8' };
+  let options = {};
   if (!common.isWindows) {
-    program = `ulimit -c 0 && exec ${program} ${args.join(' ')}`;
+    [program, options] = common.escapePOSIXShell`ulimit -c 0 && exec "${program}" ${args[0]} "${args[1]}" ${args[2]}`;
     args = [];
     options.shell = true;
   }
+
+  options.encoding = 'utf8';
   const child = spawnSync(program, args, options);
   if (common.isWindows) {
     assert.strictEqual(child.status, 134);
diff --git a/test/common/README.md b/test/common/README.md
index 8fe8fea2c1d..5f5ff75fca2 100644
--- a/test/common/README.md
+++ b/test/common/README.md
@@ -112,6 +112,33 @@ Creates a 10 MiB file of all null characters.
 
 Indicates if there is more than 1gb of total memory.
 
+### ``escapePOSIXShell`shell command` ``
+
+Escapes values in a string template literal to pass them as env variable. On Windows, this function
+does not escape anything (which is fine for most paths, as `"` is not a valid
+char in a path on Windows), so for tests that must pass on Windows, you should
+use it only to escape paths, inside double quotes.
+This function is meant to be used for tagged template strings.
+
+```js
+const { escapePOSIXShell } = require('../common');
+const fixtures = require('../common/fixtures');
+const { execSync } = require('node:child_process');
+const origin = fixtures.path('origin');
+const destination = fixtures.path('destination');
+
+execSync(...escapePOSIXShell`cp "${origin}" "${destination}"`);
+
+// When you need to specify specific options, and/or additional env variables:
+const [cmd, opts] = escapePOSIXShell`cp "${origin}" "${destination}"`;
+console.log(typeof cmd === 'string'); // true
+console.log(opts === undefined || typeof opts.env === 'object'); // true
+execSync(cmd, { ...opts, stdio: 'ignore' });
+execSync(cmd, { stdio: 'ignore', env: { ...opts?.env, KEY: 'value' } });
+```
+
+When possible, avoid using a shell; that way, there's no need to escape values.
+
 ### `expectsError(validator[, exact])`
 
 * `validator` [\<Object>][<Object>] | [\<RegExp>][<RegExp>] |
diff --git a/test/common/index.js b/test/common/index.js
index dd5f43c8664..b95e812c5a9 100644
--- a/test/common/index.js
+++ b/test/common/index.js
@@ -249,15 +249,13 @@ const PIPE = (() => {
 // `$node --abort-on-uncaught-exception $file child`
 // the process aborts.
 function childShouldThrowAndAbort() {
-  let testCmd = '';
+  const escapedArgs = escapePOSIXShell`"${process.argv[0]}" --abort-on-uncaught-exception "${process.argv[1]}" child`;
   if (!isWindows) {
     // Do not create core files, as it can take a lot of disk space on
     // continuous testing and developers' machines
-    testCmd += 'ulimit -c 0 && ';
+    escapedArgs[0] = 'ulimit -c 0 && ' + escapedArgs[0];
   }
-  testCmd += `"${process.argv[0]}" --abort-on-uncaught-exception `;
-  testCmd += `"${process.argv[1]}" child`;
-  const child = exec(testCmd);
+  const child = exec(...escapedArgs);
   child.on('exit', function onExit(exitCode, signal) {
     const errMsg = 'Test should have aborted ' +
                    `but instead exited with exit code ${exitCode}` +
@@ -888,6 +886,32 @@ function spawnPromisified(...args) {
   });
 }
 
+/**
+ * Escape values in a string template literal. On Windows, this function
+ * does not escape anything (which is fine for paths, as `"` is not a valid char
+ * in a path on Windows), so you should use it only to escape paths – or other
+ * values on tests which are skipped on Windows.
+ * This function is meant to be used for tagged template strings.
+ * @returns {[string, object | undefined]} An array that can be passed as
+ *                                         arguments to `exec` or `execSync`.
+ */
+function escapePOSIXShell(cmdParts, ...args) {
+  if (common.isWindows) {
+    // On Windows, paths cannot contain `"`, so we can return the string unchanged.
+    return [String.raw({ raw: cmdParts }, ...args)];
+  }
+  // On POSIX shells, we can pass values via the env, as there's a standard way for referencing a variable.
+  const env = { ...process.env };
+  let cmd = cmdParts[0];
+  for (let i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
+    const envVarName = `ESCAPED_${i}`;
+    env[envVarName] = args[i];
+    cmd += '${' + envVarName + '}' + cmdParts[i + 1];
+  }
+
+  return [cmd, { env }];
+};
+
 function getPrintedStackTrace(stderr) {
   const lines = stderr.split('\n');
 
@@ -951,6 +975,7 @@ const common = {
   childShouldThrowAndAbort,
   createZeroFilledFile,
   defaultAutoSelectFamilyAttemptTimeout,
+  escapePOSIXShell,
   expectsError,
   expectRequiredModule,
   expectWarning,
diff --git a/test/common/index.mjs b/test/common/index.mjs
index 42c5d575096..748977b85f8 100644
--- a/test/common/index.mjs
+++ b/test/common/index.mjs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ const {
   childShouldThrowAndAbort,
   createZeroFilledFile,
   enoughTestMem,
+  escapePOSIXShell,
   expectsError,
   expectWarning,
   getArrayBufferViews,
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ export {
   createRequire,
   createZeroFilledFile,
   enoughTestMem,
+  escapePOSIXShell,
   expectsError,
   expectWarning,
   getArrayBufferViews,
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-child-process-bad-stdio.js b/test/parallel/test-child-process-bad-stdio.js
index 1f382e29660..90e8ddd0215 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-child-process-bad-stdio.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-child-process-bad-stdio.js
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ ChildProcess.prototype.spawn = function() {
 };
 
 function createChild(options, callback) {
-  const cmd = `"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`;
+  const [cmd, opts] = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`;
+  options = { ...options, env: { ...opts?.env, ...options.env } };
 
   return cp.exec(cmd, options, common.mustCall(callback));
 }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-encoding.js b/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-encoding.js
index 0c3178e3f20..059e300e4e7 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-encoding.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-encoding.js
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
   const expectedStdout = `${stdoutData}\n`;
   const expectedStderr = `${stderrData}\n`;
   function run(options, callback) {
-    const cmd = `"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`;
+    const [cmd, opts] = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`;
+    options = { ...options, env: { ...opts?.env, ...options.env } };
 
     cp.exec(cmd, options, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
       callback(stdout, stderr);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-maxbuf.js b/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-maxbuf.js
index f2e29b8a7d0..d13454d25b0 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-maxbuf.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-maxbuf.js
@@ -14,14 +14,15 @@ function runChecks(err, stdio, streamName, expected) {
 // On non-Windows, we can pass the path via the env; `"` is not a valid char on
 // Windows, so we can simply pass the path.
 const execNode = (args, optionsOrCallback, callback) => {
+  const [cmd, opts] = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" `;
   let options = optionsOrCallback;
   if (typeof optionsOrCallback === 'function') {
     options = undefined;
     callback = optionsOrCallback;
   }
   return cp.exec(
-    `"${common.isWindows ? process.execPath : '$NODE'}" ${args}`,
-    common.isWindows ? options : { ...options, env: { ...process.env, NODE: process.execPath } },
+    cmd + args,
+    { ...opts, ...options },
     callback,
   );
 };
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-std-encoding.js b/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-std-encoding.js
index 08187316726..ed5050e14dd 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-std-encoding.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-std-encoding.js
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
   console.log(stdoutData);
   console.error(stderrData);
 } else {
-  const cmd = `"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`;
-  const child = cp.exec(cmd, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
+  const child = cp.exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
     assert.strictEqual(stdout, expectedStdout);
     assert.strictEqual(stderr, expectedStderr);
   }));
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-timeout-expire.js b/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-timeout-expire.js
index 6b62d131cbe..0fd4f85cbc9 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-timeout-expire.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-timeout-expire.js
@@ -18,9 +18,10 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
   return;
 }
 
-const cmd = `"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`;
+const [cmd, opts] = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`;
 
 cp.exec(cmd, {
+  ...opts,
   timeout: kExpiringParentTimer,
 }, common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
   console.log('[stdout]', stdout.trim());
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-timeout-kill.js b/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-timeout-kill.js
index 845fd1eaece..4938cea8a22 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-timeout-kill.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-timeout-kill.js
@@ -18,10 +18,11 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
   return;
 }
 
-const cmd = `"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`;
+const [cmd, opts] = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`;
 
 // Test with a different kill signal.
 cp.exec(cmd, {
+  ...opts,
   timeout: kExpiringParentTimer,
   killSignal: 'SIGKILL'
 }, common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-timeout-not-expired.js b/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-timeout-not-expired.js
index fb0af5fa8f5..0d0c0f47f9d 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-timeout-not-expired.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-child-process-exec-timeout-not-expired.js
@@ -22,10 +22,11 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
   return;
 }
 
-const cmd = `"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`;
+const [cmd, opts] = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`;
 
 cp.exec(cmd, {
-  timeout: kTimeoutNotSupposedToExpire
+  ...opts,
+  timeout: kTimeoutNotSupposedToExpire,
 }, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
   assert.strictEqual(stdout.trim(), 'child stdout');
   assert.strictEqual(stderr.trim(), 'child stderr');
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-child-process-execsync-maxbuf.js b/test/parallel/test-child-process-execsync-maxbuf.js
index 62b211cc3a3..5700d02ab67 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-child-process-execsync-maxbuf.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-child-process-execsync-maxbuf.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 'use strict';
-require('../common');
+const { escapePOSIXShell } = require('../common');
 
 // This test checks that the maxBuffer option for child_process.spawnSync()
 // works as expected.
@@ -10,15 +10,12 @@ const { execSync } = require('child_process');
 const msgOut = 'this is stdout';
 const msgOutBuf = Buffer.from(`${msgOut}\n`);
 
-const args = [
-  '-e',
-  `"console.log('${msgOut}')";`,
-];
+const [cmd, opts] = escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -e "${`console.log('${msgOut}')`}"`;
 
 // Verify that an error is returned if maxBuffer is surpassed.
 {
   assert.throws(() => {
-    execSync(`"${process.execPath}" ${args.join(' ')}`, { maxBuffer: 1 });
+    execSync(cmd, { ...opts, maxBuffer: 1 });
   }, (e) => {
     assert.ok(e, 'maxBuffer should error');
     assert.strictEqual(e.code, 'ENOBUFS');
@@ -33,8 +30,8 @@ const args = [
 // Verify that a maxBuffer size of Infinity works.
 {
   const ret = execSync(
-    `"${process.execPath}" ${args.join(' ')}`,
-    { maxBuffer: Infinity }
+    cmd,
+    { ...opts, maxBuffer: Infinity },
   );
 
   assert.deepStrictEqual(ret, msgOutBuf);
@@ -43,9 +40,7 @@ const args = [
 // Default maxBuffer size is 1024 * 1024.
 {
   assert.throws(() => {
-    execSync(
-      `"${process.execPath}" -e "console.log('a'.repeat(1024 * 1024))"`
-    );
+    execSync(...escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -e "console.log('a'.repeat(1024 * 1024))"`);
   }, (e) => {
     assert.ok(e, 'maxBuffer should error');
     assert.strictEqual(e.code, 'ENOBUFS');
@@ -56,9 +51,7 @@ const args = [
 
 // Default maxBuffer size is 1024 * 1024.
 {
-  const ret = execSync(
-    `"${process.execPath}" -e "console.log('a'.repeat(1024 * 1024 - 1))"`
-  );
+  const ret = execSync(...escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -e "console.log('a'.repeat(1024 * 1024 - 1))"`);
 
   assert.deepStrictEqual(
     ret.toString().trim(),
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-child-process-promisified.js b/test/parallel/test-child-process-promisified.js
index de707ce703f..208ee50816f 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-child-process-promisified.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-child-process-promisified.js
@@ -7,16 +7,8 @@ const { promisify } = require('util');
 const exec = promisify(child_process.exec);
 const execFile = promisify(child_process.execFile);
 
-// The execPath might contain chars that should be escaped in a shell context.
-// On non-Windows, we can pass the path via the env; `"` is not a valid char on
-// Windows, so we can simply pass the path.
-const execNode = (args) => exec(
-  `"${common.isWindows ? process.execPath : '$NODE'}" ${args}`,
-  common.isWindows ? undefined : { env: { ...process.env, NODE: process.execPath } },
-);
-
 {
-  const promise = execNode('-p 42');
+  const promise = exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -p 42`);
 
   assert(promise.child instanceof child_process.ChildProcess);
   promise.then(common.mustCall((obj) => {
@@ -53,7 +45,7 @@ const execNode = (args) => exec(
 const failingCodeWithStdoutErr =
   'console.log(42);console.error(43);process.exit(1)';
 {
-  execNode(`-e "${failingCodeWithStdoutErr}"`)
+  exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -e "${failingCodeWithStdoutErr}"`)
     .catch(common.mustCall((err) => {
       assert.strictEqual(err.code, 1);
       assert.strictEqual(err.stdout, '42\n');
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-cli-eval.js b/test/parallel/test-cli-eval.js
index 9fa1bbce35a..24031581fd7 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-cli-eval.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-cli-eval.js
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ const assert = require('assert');
 const child = require('child_process');
 const path = require('path');
 const fixtures = require('../common/fixtures');
-const nodejs = `"${process.execPath}"`;
 
 if (process.argv.length > 2) {
   console.log(process.argv.slice(2).join(' '));
@@ -40,13 +39,13 @@ if (process.argv.length > 2) {
 }
 
 // Assert that nothing is written to stdout.
-child.exec(`${nodejs} --eval 42`, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
+child.exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" --eval 42`, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
   assert.strictEqual(stdout, '');
   assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
 }));
 
 // Assert that "42\n" is written to stderr.
-child.exec(`${nodejs} --eval "console.error(42)"`,
+child.exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" --eval "console.error(42)"`,
            common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
              assert.strictEqual(stdout, '');
              assert.strictEqual(stderr, '42\n');
@@ -54,14 +53,14 @@ child.exec(`${nodejs} --eval "console.error(42)"`,
 
 // Assert that the expected output is written to stdout.
 ['--print', '-p -e', '-pe', '-p'].forEach((s) => {
-  const cmd = `${nodejs} ${s} `;
+  const [cmd, opts] = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" ${s}`;
 
-  child.exec(`${cmd}42`, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
+  child.exec(`${cmd} 42`, opts, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
     assert.strictEqual(stdout, '42\n');
     assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
   }));
 
-  child.exec(`${cmd} '[]'`, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
+  child.exec(`${cmd} '[]'`, opts, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
     assert.strictEqual(stdout, '[]\n');
     assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
   }));
@@ -69,29 +68,26 @@ child.exec(`${nodejs} --eval "console.error(42)"`,
 
 // Assert that module loading works.
 {
-  // Replace \ by / because Windows uses backslashes in paths, but they're still
-  // interpreted as the escape character when put between quotes.
-  const filename = __filename.replace(/\\/g, '/');
-
-  child.exec(`${nodejs} --eval "require('${filename}')"`,
-             common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
-               assert.strictEqual(err.code, 42);
-               assert.strictEqual(
-                 stdout, 'Loaded as a module, exiting with status code 42.\n');
-               assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
-             }));
+  common.spawnPromisified(process.execPath, ['--eval', `require(${JSON.stringify(__filename)})`])
+    .then(common.mustCall(({ stdout, stderr, code }) => {
+      assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
+      assert.strictEqual(
+        stdout, 'Loaded as a module, exiting with status code 42.\n');
+      assert.strictEqual(code, 42);
+    }));
 }
 
 // Check that builtin modules are pre-defined.
-child.exec(`${nodejs} --print "os.platform()"`,
+child.exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" --print "os.platform()"`,
            common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
              assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
              assert.strictEqual(stdout.trim(), require('os').platform());
            }));
 
 // Module path resolve bug regression test.
-child.exec(`${nodejs} --eval "require('./test/parallel/test-cli-eval.js')"`,
-           { cwd: path.resolve(__dirname, '../../') },
+const [cmd, opts] = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" --eval "require('./test/parallel/test-cli-eval.js')"`;
+child.exec(cmd,
+           { ...opts, cwd: path.resolve(__dirname, '../../') },
            common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
              assert.strictEqual(err.code, 42);
              assert.strictEqual(
@@ -100,7 +96,7 @@ child.exec(`${nodejs} --eval "require('./test/parallel/test-cli-eval.js')"`,
            }));
 
 // Missing argument should not crash.
-child.exec(`${nodejs} -e`, common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
+child.exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -e`, common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
   assert.strictEqual(err.code, 9);
   assert.strictEqual(stdout, '');
   assert.strictEqual(stderr.trim(),
@@ -108,18 +104,18 @@ child.exec(`${nodejs} -e`, common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
 }));
 
 // Empty program should do nothing.
-child.exec(`${nodejs} -e ""`, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
+child.exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -e ""`, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
   assert.strictEqual(stdout, '');
   assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
 }));
 
 // "\\-42" should be interpreted as an escaped expression, not a switch.
-child.exec(`${nodejs} -p "\\-42"`, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
+child.exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -p "\\-42"`, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
   assert.strictEqual(stdout, '-42\n');
   assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
 }));
 
-child.exec(`${nodejs} --use-strict -p process.execArgv`,
+child.exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" --use-strict -p process.execArgv`,
            common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
              assert.strictEqual(
                stdout, "[ '--use-strict', '-p', 'process.execArgv' ]\n"
@@ -129,26 +125,26 @@ child.exec(`${nodejs} --use-strict -p process.execArgv`,
 
 // Regression test for https://github.com/nodejs/node/issues/3574.
 {
-  let emptyFile = fixtures.path('empty.js');
-  if (common.isWindows) {
-    emptyFile = emptyFile.replace(/\\/g, '\\\\');
-  }
+  const emptyFile = fixtures.path('empty.js');
 
-  child.exec(`${nodejs} -e 'require("child_process").fork("${emptyFile}")'`,
-             common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
-               assert.strictEqual(stdout, '');
-               assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
-             }));
+  common.spawnPromisified(process.execPath, ['-e', `require("child_process").fork(${JSON.stringify(emptyFile)})`])
+    .then(common.mustCall(({ stdout, stderr, code }) => {
+      assert.strictEqual(stdout, '');
+      assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
+      assert.strictEqual(code, 0);
+    }));
 
   // Make sure that monkey-patching process.execArgv doesn't cause child_process
   // to incorrectly munge execArgv.
-  child.exec(
-    `${nodejs} -e "process.execArgv = ['-e', 'console.log(42)', 'thirdArg'];` +
-                  `require('child_process').fork('${emptyFile}')"`,
-    common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
-      assert.strictEqual(stdout, '42\n');
-      assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
-    }));
+  common.spawnPromisified(process.execPath, [
+    '-e',
+    'process.execArgv = [\'-e\', \'console.log(42)\', \'thirdArg\'];' +
+      `require('child_process').fork(${JSON.stringify(emptyFile)})`,
+  ]).then(common.mustCall(({ stdout, stderr, code }) => {
+    assert.strictEqual(stdout, '42\n');
+    assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
+    assert.strictEqual(code, 0);
+  }));
 }
 
 // Regression test for https://github.com/nodejs/node/issues/8534.
@@ -192,32 +188,34 @@ child.exec(`${nodejs} --use-strict -p process.execArgv`,
 ].forEach(function(args) {
 
   // Ensure that arguments are successfully passed to eval.
-  const opt = ' --eval "console.log(process.argv.slice(1).join(\' \'))"';
-  const cmd = `${nodejs}${opt} -- ${args}`;
-  child.exec(cmd, common.mustCall(function(err, stdout, stderr) {
-    assert.strictEqual(stdout, `${args}\n`);
-    assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
-    assert.strictEqual(err, null);
-  }));
+  child.exec(
+    ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" --eval "console.log(process.argv.slice(1).join(' '))" -- ${args}`,
+    common.mustCall(function(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      assert.strictEqual(stdout, `${args}\n`);
+      assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
+      assert.strictEqual(err, null);
+    })
+  );
 
   // Ensure that arguments are successfully passed to print.
-  const popt = ' --print "process.argv.slice(1).join(\' \')"';
-  const pcmd = `${nodejs}${popt} -- ${args}`;
-  child.exec(pcmd, common.mustCall(function(err, stdout, stderr) {
-    assert.strictEqual(stdout, `${args}\n`);
-    assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
-    assert.strictEqual(err, null);
-  }));
+  child.exec(
+    ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" --print "process.argv.slice(1).join(' ')" -- ${args}`,
+    common.mustCall(function(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      assert.strictEqual(stdout, `${args}\n`);
+      assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
+      assert.strictEqual(err, null);
+    })
+  );
 
   // Ensure that arguments are successfully passed to a script.
   // The first argument after '--' should be interpreted as a script
   // filename.
-  const filecmd = `${nodejs} -- "${__filename}" ${args}`;
-  child.exec(filecmd, common.mustCall(function(err, stdout, stderr) {
-    assert.strictEqual(stdout, `${args}\n`);
-    assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
-    assert.strictEqual(err, null);
-  }));
+  child.exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -- "${__filename}" ${args}`,
+             common.mustCall(function(err, stdout, stderr) {
+               assert.strictEqual(stdout, `${args}\n`);
+               assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
+               assert.strictEqual(err, null);
+             }));
 });
 
 // ESModule eval tests
@@ -226,14 +224,14 @@ child.exec(`${nodejs} --use-strict -p process.execArgv`,
 // Assert that "42\n" is written to stdout on module eval.
 const execOptions = '--input-type module';
 child.exec(
-  `${nodejs} ${execOptions} --eval "console.log(42)"`,
+  ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" ${execOptions} --eval "console.log(42)"`,
   common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
     assert.strictEqual(stdout, '42\n');
   }));
 
 // Assert that "42\n" is written to stdout with print option.
 child.exec(
-  `${nodejs} ${execOptions} --print --eval "42"`,
+  ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" ${execOptions} --print --eval "42"`,
   common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
     assert.ok(err);
     assert.strictEqual(stdout, '');
@@ -242,7 +240,7 @@ child.exec(
 
 // Assert that error is written to stderr on invalid input.
 child.exec(
-  `${nodejs} ${execOptions} --eval "!!!!"`,
+  ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" ${execOptions} --eval "!!!!"`,
   common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
     assert.ok(err);
     assert.strictEqual(stdout, '');
@@ -251,100 +249,95 @@ child.exec(
 
 // Assert that require is undefined in ESM support
 child.exec(
-  `${nodejs} ${execOptions} --eval "console.log(typeof require);"`,
+  ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" ${execOptions} --eval "console.log(typeof require);"`,
   common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
     assert.strictEqual(stdout, 'undefined\n');
   }));
 
 // Assert that import.meta is defined in ESM
 child.exec(
-  `${nodejs} ${execOptions} --eval "console.log(typeof import.meta);"`,
+  ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" ${execOptions} --eval "console.log(typeof import.meta);"`,
   common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
     assert.strictEqual(stdout, 'object\n');
   }));
 
+{
 // Assert that packages can be imported cwd-relative with --eval
-child.exec(
-  `${nodejs} ${execOptions} ` +
-  '--eval "import \'./test/fixtures/es-modules/mjs-file.mjs\'"',
-  common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
-    assert.strictEqual(stdout, '.mjs file\n');
-  }));
+  const [cmd, opts] = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" ${execOptions} --eval`;
+  const options = { ...opts, cwd: path.join(__dirname, '../..') };
+  child.exec(
+    `${cmd} "import './test/fixtures/es-modules/mjs-file.mjs'"`,
+    options,
+    common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
+      assert.strictEqual(stdout, '.mjs file\n');
+    }));
 
 
-// Assert that packages can be dynamic imported initial cwd-relative with --eval
-child.exec(
-  `${nodejs} ${execOptions} ` +
-  '--eval "process.chdir(\'..\');' +
+  // Assert that packages can be dynamic imported initial cwd-relative with --eval
+  child.exec(
+    cmd + ' "process.chdir(\'..\');' +
           'import(\'./test/fixtures/es-modules/mjs-file.mjs\')"',
-  common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
-    assert.strictEqual(stdout, '.mjs file\n');
-  }));
+    options,
+    common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
+      assert.strictEqual(stdout, '.mjs file\n');
+    }));
 
-child.exec(
-  `${nodejs} ` +
-  '--eval "process.chdir(\'..\');' +
+  child.exec(
+    cmd + ' "process.chdir(\'..\');' +
           'import(\'./test/fixtures/es-modules/mjs-file.mjs\')"',
-  common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
-    assert.strictEqual(stdout, '.mjs file\n');
-  }));
+    options,
+    common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
+      assert.strictEqual(stdout, '.mjs file\n');
+    }));
+}
 
 if (common.hasCrypto) {
   // Assert that calls to crypto utils work without require.
   child.exec(
-    `${nodejs} ` +
-      '-e "console.log(crypto.randomBytes(16).toString(\'hex\'))"',
+    ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -e "console.log(crypto.randomBytes(16).toString('hex'))"`,
     common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
       assert.match(stdout, /[0-9a-f]{32}/i);
     }));
   child.exec(
-    `${nodejs} ` +
-      '-p "crypto.randomBytes(16).toString(\'hex\')"',
+    ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -p "crypto.randomBytes(16).toString('hex')"`,
     common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
       assert.match(stdout, /[0-9a-f]{32}/i);
     }));
 }
 // Assert that overriding crypto works.
 child.exec(
-  `${nodejs} ` +
-      '-p "crypto=Symbol(\'test\')"',
+  ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -p "crypto=Symbol('test')"`,
   common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
     assert.match(stdout, /Symbol\(test\)/i);
   }));
 child.exec(
-  `${nodejs} ` +
-    '-e "crypto = {};console.log(\'randomBytes\', typeof crypto.randomBytes)"',
+  ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -e "crypto = {};console.log('randomBytes', typeof crypto.randomBytes)"`,
   common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
     assert.match(stdout, /randomBytes\sundefined/);
   }));
 // Assert that overriding crypto with a local variable works.
 child.exec(
-  `${nodejs} ` +
-    '-e "const crypto = {};console.log(\'randomBytes\', typeof crypto.randomBytes)"',
+  ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -e "const crypto = {};console.log('randomBytes', typeof crypto.randomBytes)"`,
   common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
     assert.match(stdout, /randomBytes\sundefined/);
   }));
 child.exec(
-  `${nodejs} ` +
-    '-e "let crypto = {};console.log(\'randomBytes\', typeof crypto.randomBytes)"',
+  ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -e "let crypto = {};console.log('randomBytes', typeof crypto.randomBytes)"`,
   common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
     assert.match(stdout, /randomBytes\sundefined/);
   }));
 child.exec(
-  `${nodejs} ` +
-    '-e "var crypto = {};console.log(\'randomBytes\', typeof crypto.randomBytes)"',
+  ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -e "var crypto = {};console.log('randomBytes', typeof crypto.randomBytes)"`,
   common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
     assert.match(stdout, /randomBytes\sundefined/);
   }));
 child.exec(
-  `${nodejs} ` +
-    '-p "const crypto = {randomBytes:1};typeof crypto.randomBytes"',
+  ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -p "const crypto = {randomBytes:1};typeof crypto.randomBytes"`,
   common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
     assert.match(stdout, /^number/);
   }));
 child.exec(
-  `${nodejs} ` +
-    '-p "let crypto = {randomBytes:1};typeof crypto.randomBytes"',
+  ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" -p "let crypto = {randomBytes:1};typeof crypto.randomBytes"`,
   common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
     assert.match(stdout, /^number/);
   }));
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-cli-node-print-help.js b/test/parallel/test-cli-node-print-help.js
index eea05dc1f00..92abe816ffe 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-cli-node-print-help.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-cli-node-print-help.js
@@ -11,18 +11,8 @@ const { exec, spawn } = require('child_process');
 const { once } = require('events');
 let stdOut;
 
-// The execPath might contain chars that should be escaped in a shell context.
-// On non-Windows, we can pass the path via the env; `"` is not a valid char on
-// Windows, so we can simply pass the path.
-const execNode = (args, callback) => exec(
-  `"${common.isWindows ? process.execPath : '$NODE'}" ${args}`,
-  common.isWindows ? undefined : { env: { ...process.env, NODE: process.execPath } },
-  callback,
-);
-
-
 function startPrintHelpTest() {
-  execNode('--help', common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
+  exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" --help`, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
     stdOut = stdout;
     validateNodePrintHelp();
   }));
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-cli-syntax-eval.js b/test/parallel/test-cli-syntax-eval.js
index b5b8db4547a..ad107405b20 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-cli-syntax-eval.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-cli-syntax-eval.js
@@ -4,21 +4,10 @@ const common = require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 const { exec } = require('child_process');
 
-// The execPath might contain chars that should be escaped in a shell context.
-// On non-Windows, we can pass the path via the env; `"` is not a valid char on
-// Windows, so we can simply pass the path.
-const execNode = (args, callback) => exec(
-  `"${common.isWindows ? process.execPath : '$NODE'}" ${args}`,
-  common.isWindows ? undefined : { env: { ...process.env, NODE: process.execPath } },
-  callback,
-);
-
-
 // Should throw if -c and -e flags are both passed
 ['-c', '--check'].forEach(function(checkFlag) {
   ['-e', '--eval'].forEach(function(evalFlag) {
-    const args = [checkFlag, evalFlag, 'foo'];
-    execNode(args.join(' '), common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
+    exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" ${checkFlag} ${evalFlag} foo`, common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
       assert.strictEqual(err instanceof Error, true);
       assert.strictEqual(err.code, 9);
       assert(
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-crypto-sign-verify.js b/test/parallel/test-crypto-sign-verify.js
index 9dd586a1a1f..8a263ec3350 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-crypto-sign-verify.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-crypto-sign-verify.js
@@ -621,12 +621,10 @@ assert.throws(
   const msgfile = tmpdir.resolve('s5.msg');
   fs.writeFileSync(msgfile, msg);
 
-  const cmd =
-    `"${common.opensslCli}" dgst -sha256 -verify "${pubfile}" -signature "${
-      sigfile}" -sigopt rsa_padding_mode:pss -sigopt rsa_pss_saltlen:-2 "${
-      msgfile}"`;
-
-  exec(cmd, common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
+  exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${
+    common.opensslCli}" dgst -sha256 -verify "${pubfile}" -signature "${
+    sigfile}" -sigopt rsa_padding_mode:pss -sigopt rsa_pss_saltlen:-2 "${msgfile
+  }"`, common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
     assert(stdout.includes('Verified OK'));
   }));
 }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-domain-abort-on-uncaught.js b/test/parallel/test-domain-abort-on-uncaught.js
index 08551721c1d..284f6b908fe 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-domain-abort-on-uncaught.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-domain-abort-on-uncaught.js
@@ -202,18 +202,15 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
 } else {
 
   tests.forEach(function(test, testIndex) {
-    let testCmd = '';
+    const escapedArgs = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" --abort-on-uncaught-exception "${__filename}" child ${testIndex}`;
     if (!common.isWindows) {
       // Do not create core files, as it can take a lot of disk space on
       // continuous testing and developers' machines
-      testCmd += 'ulimit -c 0 && ';
+      escapedArgs[0] = 'ulimit -c 0 && ' + escapedArgs[0];
     }
 
-    testCmd += `"${process.argv[0]}" --abort-on-uncaught-exception ` +
-               `"${process.argv[1]}" child ${testIndex}`;
-
     try {
-      child_process.execSync(testCmd);
+      child_process.execSync(...escapedArgs);
     } catch (e) {
       assert.fail(`Test index ${testIndex} failed: ${e}`);
     }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-domain-throw-error-then-throw-from-uncaught-exception-handler.js b/test/parallel/test-domain-throw-error-then-throw-from-uncaught-exception-handler.js
index 31889c17f74..6307d9f838c 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-domain-throw-error-then-throw-from-uncaught-exception-handler.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-domain-throw-error-then-throw-from-uncaught-exception-handler.js
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
 
 function runTestWithoutAbortOnUncaughtException() {
   child_process.exec(
-    createTestCmdLine(),
+    ...createTestCmdLine(),
     function onTestDone(err, stdout, stderr) {
       // When _not_ passing --abort-on-uncaught-exception, the process'
       // uncaughtException handler _must_ be called, and thus the error
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ function runTestWithoutAbortOnUncaughtException() {
 }
 
 function runTestWithAbortOnUncaughtException() {
-  child_process.exec(createTestCmdLine({
+  child_process.exec(...createTestCmdLine({
     withAbortOnUncaughtException: true
   }), function onTestDone(err, stdout, stderr) {
     assert.notStrictEqual(err.code, RAN_UNCAUGHT_EXCEPTION_HANDLER_EXIT_CODE,
@@ -82,21 +82,14 @@ function runTestWithAbortOnUncaughtException() {
 }
 
 function createTestCmdLine(options) {
-  let testCmd = '';
+  const escapedArgs = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" ${
+    options?.withAbortOnUncaughtException ? '--abort-on-uncaught-exception' : ''
+  } "${__filename}" child`;
 
   if (!common.isWindows) {
     // Do not create core files, as it can take a lot of disk space on
     // continuous testing and developers' machines
-    testCmd += 'ulimit -c 0 && ';
+    escapedArgs[0] = 'ulimit -c 0 && ' + escapedArgs[0];
   }
-
-  testCmd += `"${process.argv[0]}"`;
-
-  if (options?.withAbortOnUncaughtException) {
-    testCmd += ' --abort-on-uncaught-exception';
-  }
-
-  testCmd += ` "${process.argv[1]}" child`;
-
-  return testCmd;
+  return escapedArgs;
 }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-domain-with-abort-on-uncaught-exception.js b/test/parallel/test-domain-with-abort-on-uncaught-exception.js
index 5f10b19926b..1a3dfb8a8ab 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-domain-with-abort-on-uncaught-exception.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-domain-with-abort-on-uncaught-exception.js
@@ -91,21 +91,17 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
     if (options.throwInDomainErrHandler)
       throwInDomainErrHandlerOpt = 'throwInDomainErrHandler';
 
-    let cmdToExec = '';
-    if (!common.isWindows) {
-      // Do not create core files, as it can take a lot of disk space on
-      // continuous testing and developers' machines
-      cmdToExec += 'ulimit -c 0 && ';
-    }
-
     let useTryCatchOpt;
     if (options.useTryCatch)
       useTryCatchOpt = 'useTryCatch';
 
-    cmdToExec += `"${process.argv[0]}" ${cmdLineOption ? cmdLineOption : ''} "${
-      process.argv[1]}" child ${throwInDomainErrHandlerOpt} ${useTryCatchOpt}`;
-
-    const child = exec(cmdToExec);
+    const escapedArgs = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" ${cmdLineOption || ''} "${__filename}" child ${throwInDomainErrHandlerOpt || ''} ${useTryCatchOpt || ''}`;
+    if (!common.isWindows) {
+      // Do not create core files, as it can take a lot of disk space on
+      // continuous testing and developers' machines
+      escapedArgs[0] = 'ulimit -c 0 && ' + escapedArgs[0];
+    }
+    const child = exec(...escapedArgs);
 
     if (child) {
       child.on('exit', function onChildExited(exitCode, signal) {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-env-var-no-warnings.js b/test/parallel/test-env-var-no-warnings.js
index b6164da1039..cee06c8596d 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-env-var-no-warnings.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-env-var-no-warnings.js
@@ -7,14 +7,13 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
   process.emitWarning('foo');
 } else {
   function test(newEnv) {
-    const env = { ...process.env, ...newEnv };
-    const cmd = `"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`;
+    const [cmd, opts] = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`;
 
-    cp.exec(cmd, { env }, common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
+    cp.exec(cmd, { ...opts, env: { ...opts?.env, ...newEnv } }, common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
       assert.strictEqual(err, null);
       assert.strictEqual(stdout, '');
 
-      if (env.NODE_NO_WARNINGS === '1')
+      if (newEnv.NODE_NO_WARNINGS === '1')
         assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
       else
         assert.match(stderr.trim(), /Warning: foo\n/);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-error-reporting.js b/test/parallel/test-error-reporting.js
index 98abf949fb0..e8a8f14223d 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-error-reporting.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-error-reporting.js
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ const fixtures = require('../common/fixtures');
 function errExec(script, option, callback) {
   callback = typeof option === 'function' ? option : callback;
   option = typeof option === 'string' ? option : '';
-  const cmd = `"${process.argv[0]}" ${option} "${fixtures.path(script)}"`;
-  return exec(cmd, (err, stdout, stderr) => {
+  return exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" ${option} "${fixtures.path(script)}"`, (err, stdout, stderr) => {
     // There was some error
     assert.ok(err);
 
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-fs-read-stream.js b/test/parallel/test-fs-read-stream.js
index a038eac1efd..80bd7b01c86 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-fs-read-stream.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-fs-read-stream.js
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ if (!common.isWindows) {
   const filename = `${tmpdir.path}/foo.pipe`;
   const mkfifoResult = child_process.spawnSync('mkfifo', [filename]);
   if (!mkfifoResult.error) {
-    child_process.exec(`echo "xyz foobar" > '${filename}'`);
+    child_process.exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`echo "xyz foobar" > "${filename}"`);
     const stream = new fs.createReadStream(filename, common.mustNotMutateObjectDeep({ end: 1 }));
     stream.data = '';
 
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-fs-readfile-eof.js b/test/parallel/test-fs-readfile-eof.js
index 94354b915b8..d7f9e21c5bf 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-fs-readfile-eof.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-fs-readfile-eof.js
@@ -25,21 +25,19 @@ const data2 = 'World';
 const expected = `${data1}\n${data2}\n`;
 
 const exec = require('child_process').exec;
-const f = JSON.stringify(__filename);
-const node = JSON.stringify(process.execPath);
 
 function test(child) {
-  const cmd = `(echo ${data1}; sleep 0.5; echo ${data2}) | ${node} ${f} ${child}`;
-  exec(cmd, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
-    assert.strictEqual(
-      stdout,
-      expected,
-      `expected to read(${child === childType[0] ? 'with' : 'without'} encoding): '${expected}' but got: '${stdout}'`);
-    assert.strictEqual(
-      stderr,
-      '',
-      `expected not to read anything from stderr but got: '${stderr}'`);
-  }));
+  exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`(echo "${data1}"; sleep 0.5; echo "${data2}") | "${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" "${child}"`,
+       common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
+         assert.strictEqual(
+           stdout,
+           expected,
+           `expected to read(${child === childType[0] ? 'with' : 'without'} encoding): '${expected}' but got: '${stdout}'`);
+         assert.strictEqual(
+           stderr,
+           '',
+           `expected not to read anything from stderr but got: '${stderr}'`);
+       }));
 }
 
 test(childType[0]);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-fs-readfile-error.js b/test/parallel/test-fs-readfile-error.js
index da4638d22d5..ae2b7dcda86 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-fs-readfile-error.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-fs-readfile-error.js
@@ -36,9 +36,7 @@ const fixtures = require('../common/fixtures');
 
 function test(env, cb) {
   const filename = fixtures.path('test-fs-readfile-error.js');
-  const execPath = `"${process.execPath}" "${filename}"`;
-  const options = { env: { ...process.env, ...env } };
-  exec(execPath, options, (err, stdout, stderr) => {
+  exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" "${filename}"`, (err, stdout, stderr) => {
     assert(err);
     assert.strictEqual(stdout, '');
     assert.notStrictEqual(stderr, '');
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-fs-readfile-pipe-large.js b/test/parallel/test-fs-readfile-pipe-large.js
index 4376774bb41..fa5fea3ca38 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-fs-readfile-pipe-large.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-fs-readfile-pipe-large.js
@@ -25,10 +25,8 @@ tmpdir.refresh();
 fs.writeFileSync(filename, dataExpected);
 
 const exec = require('child_process').exec;
-const f = JSON.stringify(__filename);
-const node = JSON.stringify(process.execPath);
-const cmd = `cat ${filename} | ${node} ${f} child`;
-exec(cmd, { maxBuffer: 1000000 }, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
+const [cmd, opts] = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child < "${filename}"`;
+exec(cmd, { ...opts, maxBuffer: 1000000 }, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
   assert.strictEqual(
     stdout,
     dataExpected,
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-fs-readfile-pipe.js b/test/parallel/test-fs-readfile-pipe.js
index 79d5699fef6..782265e8ce4 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-fs-readfile-pipe.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-fs-readfile-pipe.js
@@ -43,10 +43,7 @@ const filename = fixtures.path('readfile_pipe_test.txt');
 const dataExpected = fs.readFileSync(filename).toString();
 
 const exec = require('child_process').exec;
-const f = JSON.stringify(__filename);
-const node = JSON.stringify(process.execPath);
-const cmd = `cat ${filename} | ${node} ${f} child`;
-exec(cmd, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
+exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child < "${filename}"`, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
   assert.strictEqual(
     stdout,
     dataExpected,
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-fs-readfilesync-pipe-large.js b/test/parallel/test-fs-readfilesync-pipe-large.js
index 5450337c4f6..60c7dccd1ac 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-fs-readfilesync-pipe-large.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-fs-readfilesync-pipe-large.js
@@ -22,12 +22,10 @@ tmpdir.refresh();
 fs.writeFileSync(filename, dataExpected);
 
 const exec = require('child_process').exec;
-const f = JSON.stringify(__filename);
-const node = JSON.stringify(process.execPath);
-const cmd = `cat ${filename} | ${node} ${f} child`;
+const [cmd, opts] = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child < "${filename}"`;
 exec(
   cmd,
-  { maxBuffer: 1000000 },
+  { ...opts, maxBuffer: 1_000_000 },
   common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
     assert.strictEqual(stdout, dataExpected);
     assert.strictEqual(stderr, '');
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-fs-write-sigxfsz.js b/test/parallel/test-fs-write-sigxfsz.js
index b746faeeb47..d5290d7d842 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-fs-write-sigxfsz.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-fs-write-sigxfsz.js
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
   tmpdir.refresh();
   fs.writeFileSync(filename, '.'.repeat(1 << 16));  // Exceeds RLIMIT_FSIZE.
 } else {
-  const cmd = `ulimit -f 1 && '${process.execPath}' '${__filename}' child`;
-  const result = child_process.spawnSync('/bin/sh', ['-c', cmd]);
+  const [cmd, opts] = common.escapePOSIXShell`ulimit -f 1 && "${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`;
+  const result = child_process.spawnSync('/bin/sh', ['-c', cmd], opts);
   const haystack = result.stderr.toString();
   const needle = 'Error: EFBIG: file too large, write';
   const ok = haystack.includes(needle);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-permission-allow-child-process-cli.js b/test/parallel/test-permission-allow-child-process-cli.js
index 1216e29886a..d805c6fb973 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-permission-allow-child-process-cli.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-permission-allow-child-process-cli.js
@@ -15,20 +15,12 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
   assert.ok(process.permission.has('child'));
 }
 
-// The execPath might contain chars that should be escaped in a shell context.
-// On non-Windows, we can pass the path via the env; `"` is not a valid char on
-// Windows, so we can simply pass the path.
-const execNode = (args) => childProcess.execSync(
-  `"${common.isWindows ? process.execPath : '$NODE'}" ${args}`,
-  common.isWindows ? undefined : { env: { ...process.env, NODE: process.execPath } },
-);
-
 // When a permission is set by cli, the process shouldn't be able
 // to spawn unless --allow-child-process is sent
 {
   // doesNotThrow
   childProcess.spawnSync(process.execPath, ['--version']);
-  execNode('--version');
+  childProcess.execSync(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" --version`);
   childProcess.fork(__filename, ['child']);
   childProcess.execFileSync(process.execPath, ['--version']);
 }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-permission-child-process-cli.js b/test/parallel/test-permission-child-process-cli.js
index 5a9c6345aaf..76586a1c538 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-permission-child-process-cli.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-permission-child-process-cli.js
@@ -15,14 +15,6 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
   assert.ok(!process.permission.has('child'));
 }
 
-// The execPath might contain chars that should be escaped in a shell context.
-// On non-Windows, we can pass the path via the env; `"` is not a valid char on
-// Windows, so we can simply pass the path.
-const execNode = (args) => [
-  `"${common.isWindows ? process.execPath : '$NODE'}" ${args}`,
-  common.isWindows ? undefined : { env: { ...process.env, NODE: process.execPath } },
-];
-
 // When a permission is set by cli, the process shouldn't be able
 // to spawn
 {
@@ -39,13 +31,13 @@ const execNode = (args) => [
     permission: 'ChildProcess',
   }));
   assert.throws(() => {
-    childProcess.exec(...execNode('--version'));
+    childProcess.exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" --version`);
   }, common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ACCESS_DENIED',
     permission: 'ChildProcess',
   }));
   assert.throws(() => {
-    childProcess.execSync(...execNode('--version'));
+    childProcess.execSync(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" --version`);
   }, common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ACCESS_DENIED',
     permission: 'ChildProcess',
@@ -57,13 +49,13 @@ const execNode = (args) => [
     permission: 'ChildProcess',
   }));
   assert.throws(() => {
-    childProcess.execFile(...execNode('--version'));
+    childProcess.execFile(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" --version`);
   }, common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ACCESS_DENIED',
     permission: 'ChildProcess',
   }));
   assert.throws(() => {
-    childProcess.execFileSync(...execNode('--version'));
+    childProcess.execFileSync(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" --version`);
   }, common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ACCESS_DENIED',
     permission: 'ChildProcess',
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-preload-self-referential.js b/test/parallel/test-preload-self-referential.js
index 2624527deb3..867e1c67983 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-preload-self-referential.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-preload-self-referential.js
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ if (!common.isMainThread)
 const selfRefModule = fixtures.path('self_ref_module');
 const fixtureA = fixtures.path('printA.js');
 
-exec(`"${nodeBinary}" -r self_ref "${fixtureA}"`, { cwd: selfRefModule },
-     (err, stdout, stderr) => {
-       assert.ifError(err);
+const [cmd, opts] = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${nodeBinary}" -r self_ref "${fixtureA}"`;
+exec(cmd, { ...opts, cwd: selfRefModule },
+     common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
        assert.strictEqual(stdout, 'A\n');
-     });
+     }));
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-preload-worker.js b/test/parallel/test-preload-worker.js
index 3e9134b470c..552698c2fce 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-preload-worker.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-preload-worker.js
@@ -7,4 +7,4 @@ const { exec } = require('child_process');
 const kNodeBinary = process.argv[0];
 
 
-exec(`"${kNodeBinary}" -r "${worker}" -pe "1+1"`, common.mustSucceed());
+exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${kNodeBinary}" -r "${worker}" -pe "1+1"`, common.mustSucceed());
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-stdin-from-file.js b/test/parallel/test-stdin-from-file.js
index 67404c84c98..c8301ff4598 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-stdin-from-file.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-stdin-from-file.js
@@ -10,15 +10,11 @@ const stdoutScript = fixtures.path('echo-close-check.js');
 const tmpFile = tmpdir.resolve('stdin.txt');
 const string = fixtures.utf8TestText;
 
-const cmd = `"${process.argv[0]}" "${stdoutScript}" < "${tmpFile}"`;
-
 tmpdir.refresh();
 
-console.log(`${cmd}\n\n`);
-
 fs.writeFileSync(tmpFile, string);
 
-childProcess.exec(cmd, common.mustCall(function(err, stdout, stderr) {
+childProcess.exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.argv0}" "${stdoutScript}" < "${tmpFile}"`, common.mustCall(function(err, stdout, stderr) {
   fs.unlinkSync(tmpFile);
 
   assert.ifError(err);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-stdio-closed.js b/test/parallel/test-stdio-closed.js
index cc9f1e86ccb..3d2cb88a476 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-stdio-closed.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-stdio-closed.js
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
 }
 
 // Run the script in a shell but close stdout and stderr.
-const cmd = `"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child 1>&- 2>&-`;
-const proc = spawn('/bin/sh', ['-c', cmd], { stdio: 'inherit' });
+const [cmd, opts] = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child 1>&- 2>&-`;
+const proc = spawn('/bin/sh', ['-c', cmd], { ...opts, stdio: 'inherit' });
 
 proc.on('exit', common.mustCall(function(exitCode) {
   assert.strictEqual(exitCode, 0);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-stdout-close-catch.js b/test/parallel/test-stdout-close-catch.js
index 924b52715a5..8a06acfda05 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-stdout-close-catch.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-stdout-close-catch.js
@@ -7,12 +7,9 @@ const { getSystemErrorName } = require('util');
 
 const testScript = fixtures.path('catch-stdout-error.js');
 
-const cmd = `${JSON.stringify(process.execPath)} ` +
-            `${JSON.stringify(testScript)} | ` +
-            `${JSON.stringify(process.execPath)} ` +
-            '-pe "process.stdin.on(\'data\' , () => process.exit(1))"';
-
-const child = child_process.exec(cmd);
+const child = child_process.exec(
+  ...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" "${testScript}" | "${process.execPath}" -pe "process.stdin.on('data' , () => process.exit(1))"`
+);
 let output = '';
 
 child.stderr.on('data', function(c) {
@@ -21,12 +18,7 @@ child.stderr.on('data', function(c) {
 
 
 child.on('close', common.mustCall(function(code) {
-  try {
-    output = JSON.parse(output);
-  } catch {
-    console.error(output);
-    process.exit(1);
-  }
+  output = JSON.parse(output);
 
   assert.strictEqual(output.code, 'EPIPE');
   assert.strictEqual(getSystemErrorName(output.errno), 'EPIPE');
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-stdout-to-file.js b/test/parallel/test-stdout-to-file.js
index 9114f224431..761c26f820d 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-stdout-to-file.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-stdout-to-file.js
@@ -13,9 +13,6 @@ const tmpFile = tmpdir.resolve('stdout.txt');
 tmpdir.refresh();
 
 function test(size, useBuffer, cb) {
-  const cmd = `"${process.argv[0]}" "${
-    useBuffer ? scriptBuffer : scriptString}" ${size} > "${tmpFile}"`;
-
   try {
     fs.unlinkSync(tmpFile);
   } catch {
@@ -24,7 +21,9 @@ function test(size, useBuffer, cb) {
 
   console.log(`${size} chars to ${tmpFile}...`);
 
-  childProcess.exec(cmd, common.mustSucceed(() => {
+  childProcess.exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${
+    process.execPath}" "${useBuffer ? scriptBuffer : scriptString}" ${size} > "${tmpFile
+  }"`, common.mustSucceed(() => {
     console.log('done!');
 
     const stat = fs.statSync(tmpFile);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-stream-pipeline-process.js b/test/parallel/test-stream-pipeline-process.js
index a535e7263eb..2212c702ff9 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-stream-pipeline-process.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-stream-pipeline-process.js
@@ -13,14 +13,7 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
   );
 } else {
   const cp = require('child_process');
-  cp.exec([
-    'echo',
-    'hello',
-    '|',
-    `"${process.execPath}"`,
-    `"${__filename}"`,
-    'child',
-  ].join(' '), common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
+  cp.exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`echo hello | "${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`, common.mustSucceed((stdout) => {
     assert.strictEqual(stdout.split(os.EOL).shift().trim(), 'hello');
   }));
 }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-tls-ecdh.js b/test/parallel/test-tls-ecdh.js
index 8c879f850c9..276b713f5ec 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-tls-ecdh.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-tls-ecdh.js
@@ -49,10 +49,10 @@ const server = tls.createServer(options, common.mustCall(function(conn) {
 }));
 
 server.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', common.mustCall(function() {
-  const cmd = `"${common.opensslCli}" s_client -cipher ${
+  const cmd = common.escapePOSIXShell`"${common.opensslCli}" s_client -cipher ${
     options.ciphers} -connect 127.0.0.1:${this.address().port}`;
 
-  exec(cmd, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
+  exec(...cmd, common.mustSucceed((stdout, stderr) => {
     assert(stdout.includes(reply));
     server.close();
   }));
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-worker-init-failure.js b/test/parallel/test-worker-init-failure.js
index 078329ee688..8233116e1e0 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-worker-init-failure.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-worker-init-failure.js
@@ -47,9 +47,7 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
 
 } else {
   // Limit the number of open files, to force workers to fail.
-  let testCmd = `ulimit -n ${OPENFILES} && `;
-  testCmd += `${process.execPath} ${__filename} child`;
-  const cp = child_process.exec(testCmd);
+  const cp = child_process.exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`ulimit -n ${OPENFILES} && "${process.execPath}" "${__filename}" child`);
 
   // Turn on the child streams for debugging purposes.
   let stdout = '';
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-child-process-emfile.js b/test/sequential/test-child-process-emfile.js
index 8091e54a5c5..8ee6dd52e30 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-child-process-emfile.js
+++ b/test/sequential/test-child-process-emfile.js
@@ -30,12 +30,14 @@ const fs = require('fs');
 
 const ulimit = Number(child_process.execSync('ulimit -Hn'));
 if (ulimit > 64 || Number.isNaN(ulimit)) {
+  const [cmd, opts] = common.escapePOSIXShell`ulimit -n 64 && "${process.execPath}" "${__filename}"`;
   // Sorry about this nonsense. It can be replaced if
   // https://github.com/nodejs/node-v0.x-archive/pull/2143#issuecomment-2847886
   // ever happens.
   const result = child_process.spawnSync(
     '/bin/sh',
-    ['-c', `ulimit -n 64 && '${process.execPath}' '${__filename}'`]
+    ['-c', cmd],
+    opts,
   );
   assert.strictEqual(result.stdout.toString(), '');
   assert.strictEqual(result.stderr.toString(), '');
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-cli-syntax-bad.js b/test/sequential/test-cli-syntax-bad.js
index c16de3b5013..e967ff36ac2 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-cli-syntax-bad.js
+++ b/test/sequential/test-cli-syntax-bad.js
@@ -1,16 +1,14 @@
 'use strict';
 
-require('../common');
+const common = require('../common');
 const { exec } = require('child_process');
 const { test } = require('node:test');
 const fixtures = require('../common/fixtures');
 
-const node = process.execPath;
-
 // Test both sets of arguments that check syntax
 const syntaxArgs = [
-  ['-c'],
-  ['--check'],
+  '-c',
+  '--check',
 ];
 
 // Match on the name of the `Error` but not the message as it is different
@@ -27,13 +25,10 @@ const syntaxErrorRE = /^SyntaxError: \b/m;
   const path = fixtures.path(file);
 
   // Loop each possible option, `-c` or `--check`
-  syntaxArgs.forEach((args) => {
-    test(`Checking syntax for ${file} with ${args.join(' ')}`, async (t) => {
-      const _args = args.concat(path);
-      const cmd = [node, ..._args].join(' ');
-
+  syntaxArgs.forEach((flag) => {
+    test(`Checking syntax for ${file} with ${flag}`, async (t) => {
       try {
-        const { stdout, stderr } = await execPromise(cmd);
+        const { stdout, stderr } = await execNode(flag, path);
 
         // No stdout should be produced
         t.assert.strictEqual(stdout, '');
@@ -51,9 +46,9 @@ const syntaxErrorRE = /^SyntaxError: \b/m;
 });
 
 // Helper function to promisify exec
-function execPromise(cmd) {
+function execNode(flag, path) {
   const { promise, resolve, reject } = Promise.withResolvers();
-  exec(cmd, (err, stdout, stderr) => {
+  exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" ${flag} "${path}"`, (err, stdout, stderr) => {
     if (err) return reject({ ...err, stdout, stderr });
     resolve({ stdout, stderr });
   });
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-cli-syntax-file-not-found.js b/test/sequential/test-cli-syntax-file-not-found.js
index 189d6b8d58f..203074a0e7a 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-cli-syntax-file-not-found.js
+++ b/test/sequential/test-cli-syntax-file-not-found.js
@@ -5,15 +5,6 @@ const assert = require('assert');
 const { exec } = require('child_process');
 const fixtures = require('../common/fixtures');
 
-// The execPath might contain chars that should be escaped in a shell context.
-// On non-Windows, we can pass the path via the env; `"` is not a valid char on
-// Windows, so we can simply pass the path.
-const execNode = (flag, file, callback) => exec(
-  `"${common.isWindows ? process.execPath : '$NODE'}" ${flag} "${common.isWindows ? file : '$FILE'}"`,
-  common.isWindows ? undefined : { env: { ...process.env, NODE: process.execPath, FILE: file } },
-  callback,
-);
-
 // Test both sets of arguments that check syntax
 const syntaxArgs = [
   '-c',
@@ -31,7 +22,7 @@ const notFoundRE = /^Error: Cannot find module/m;
 
   // Loop each possible option, `-c` or `--check`
   syntaxArgs.forEach(function(flag) {
-    execNode(flag, file, common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
+    exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" ${flag} "${file}"`, common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
       // No stdout should be produced
       assert.strictEqual(stdout, '');
 
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-cli-syntax-good.js b/test/sequential/test-cli-syntax-good.js
index 24c68781876..00d4e05e246 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-cli-syntax-good.js
+++ b/test/sequential/test-cli-syntax-good.js
@@ -5,15 +5,6 @@ const assert = require('assert');
 const { exec } = require('child_process');
 const fixtures = require('../common/fixtures');
 
-// The execPath might contain chars that should be escaped in a shell context.
-// On non-Windows, we can pass the path via the env; `"` is not a valid char on
-// Windows, so we can simply pass the path.
-const execNode = (flag, file, callback) => exec(
-  `"${common.isWindows ? process.execPath : '$NODE'}" ${flag} "${common.isWindows ? file : '$FILE'}"`,
-  common.isWindows ? undefined : { env: { ...process.env, NODE: process.execPath, FILE: file } },
-  callback,
-);
-
 // Test both sets of arguments that check syntax
 const syntaxArgs = [
   '-c',
@@ -33,7 +24,7 @@ const syntaxArgs = [
 
   // Loop each possible option, `-c` or `--check`
   syntaxArgs.forEach(function(flag) {
-    execNode(flag, file, common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
+    exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" ${flag} "${file}"`, common.mustCall((err, stdout, stderr) => {
       if (err) {
         console.log('-- stdout --');
         console.log(stdout);
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-init.js b/test/sequential/test-init.js
index b64fb23daea..7195369e0e4 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-init.js
+++ b/test/sequential/test-init.js
@@ -35,8 +35,7 @@ if (process.env.TEST_INIT) {
 process.env.TEST_INIT = 1;
 
 function test(file, expected) {
-  const path = `"${process.execPath}" ${file}`;
-  child.exec(path, { env: process.env }, common.mustSucceed((out) => {
+  child.exec(...common.escapePOSIXShell`"${process.execPath}" "${file}"`, common.mustSucceed((out) => {
     assert.strictEqual(out, expected, `'node ${file}' failed!`);
   }));
 }