diff --git a/lib/util.js b/lib/util.js
index 19d3d464f1..d143552615 100644
--- a/lib/util.js
+++ b/lib/util.js
@@ -761,14 +761,7 @@ exports.inherits = function(ctor, superCtor) {
                         'have a prototype.');
 
   ctor.super_ = superCtor;
-  ctor.prototype = Object.create(superCtor.prototype, {
-    constructor: {
-      value: ctor,
-      enumerable: false,
-      writable: true,
-      configurable: true
-    }
-  });
+  Object.setPrototypeOf(ctor.prototype, superCtor.prototype);
 };
 
 exports._extend = function(origin, add) {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-util-inherits.js b/test/parallel/test-util-inherits.js
index baa77ea440..a3c5786fe2 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-util-inherits.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-util-inherits.js
@@ -40,6 +40,40 @@ const c = new C();
 assert.strictEqual(c.getValue(), 'abc');
 assert.strictEqual(c.constructor, C);
 
+// inherits can be called after setting prototype properties
+function D() {
+  C.call(this);
+  this._d = 'd';
+}
+
+D.prototype.d = function() { return this._d; };
+inherits(D, C);
+
+assert.strictEqual(D.super_, C);
+
+const d = new D();
+assert.strictEqual(d.c(), 'c');
+assert.strictEqual(d.d(), 'd');
+assert.strictEqual(d.constructor, D);
+
+// ES6 classes can inherit from a constructor function
+class E {
+  constructor() {
+    D.call(this);
+    this._e = 'e';
+  }
+  e() { return this._e; }
+}
+inherits(E, D);
+
+assert.strictEqual(E.super_, D);
+
+const e = new E();
+assert.strictEqual(e.getValue(), 'abc');
+assert.strictEqual(e.d(), 'd');
+assert.strictEqual(e.e(), 'e');
+assert.strictEqual(e.constructor, E);
+
 // should throw with invalid arguments
 assert.throws(function() { inherits(A, {}); }, TypeError);
 assert.throws(function() { inherits(A, null); }, TypeError);