diff --git a/lib/internal/test_runner/runner.js b/lib/internal/test_runner/runner.js
index 27be4829581b56..45fb830a982fd8 100644
--- a/lib/internal/test_runner/runner.js
+++ b/lib/internal/test_runner/runner.js
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ function run(options) {
     if (!ArrayIsArray(testNamePatterns)) {
       testNamePatterns = [testNamePatterns];
     }
-    validateArray(testNamePatterns, 'options.testNamePatterns');
+
     testNamePatterns = ArrayPrototypeMap(testNamePatterns, (value, i) => {
       if (isRegExp(value)) {
         return value;