diff --git a/test/common/index.js b/test/common/index.js
index 765e7c8aa1..7f00820123 100644
--- a/test/common/index.js
+++ b/test/common/index.js
@@ -267,8 +267,9 @@ if (exports.isWindows) {
 }
 
 const ifaces = os.networkInterfaces();
+const re = /lo/;
 exports.hasIPv6 = Object.keys(ifaces).some(function(name) {
-  return /lo/.test(name) && ifaces[name].some(function(info) {
+  return re.test(name) && ifaces[name].some(function(info) {
     return info.family === 'IPv6';
   });
 });
@@ -433,7 +434,7 @@ function leakedGlobals() {
       leaked.push(val);
 
   if (global.__coverage__) {
-    return leaked.filter((varname) => !/^(cov_|__cov)/.test(varname));
+    return leaked.filter((varname) => !/^(?:cov_|__cov)/.test(varname));
   } else {
     return leaked;
   }
diff --git a/test/debugger/helper-debugger-repl.js b/test/debugger/helper-debugger-repl.js
index 234a401023..f11d4d9498 100644
--- a/test/debugger/helper-debugger-repl.js
+++ b/test/debugger/helper-debugger-repl.js
@@ -51,12 +51,12 @@ function startDebugger(scriptToDebug) {
   child.stderr.pipe(process.stderr);
 
   child.on('line', function(line) {
-    line = line.replace(/^(debug> *)+/, '');
+    line = line.replace(/^(?:debug> *)+/, '');
     console.log(line);
     assert.ok(expected.length > 0, `Got unexpected line: ${line}`);
 
     const expectedLine = expected[0].lines.shift();
-    assert.ok(line.match(expectedLine) !== null, `${line} != ${expectedLine}`);
+    assert.ok(expectedLine.test(line), `${line} != ${expectedLine}`);
 
     if (expected[0].lines.length === 0) {
       const callback = expected[0].callback;
diff --git a/test/doctool/test-doctool-html.js b/test/doctool/test-doctool-html.js
index ba3e793e8a..8f78663cbe 100644
--- a/test/doctool/test-doctool-html.js
+++ b/test/doctool/test-doctool-html.js
@@ -91,9 +91,11 @@ const testData = [
   },
 ];
 
+const spaces = /\s/g;
+
 testData.forEach((item) => {
   // Normalize expected data by stripping whitespace
-  const expected = item.html.replace(/\s/g, '');
+  const expected = item.html.replace(spaces, '');
   const includeAnalytics = typeof item.analyticsId !== 'undefined';
 
   fs.readFile(item.file, 'utf8', common.mustCall((err, input) => {
@@ -112,7 +114,7 @@ testData.forEach((item) => {
         common.mustCall((err, output) => {
           assert.ifError(err);
 
-          const actual = output.replace(/\s/g, '');
+          const actual = output.replace(spaces, '');
           // Assert that the input stripped of all whitespace contains the
           // expected list
           assert.notStrictEqual(actual.indexOf(expected), -1);
diff --git a/test/inspector/inspector-helper.js b/test/inspector/inspector-helper.js
index faf932f495..bc60974364 100644
--- a/test/inspector/inspector-helper.js
+++ b/test/inspector/inspector-helper.js
@@ -521,11 +521,11 @@ exports.startNodeForInspectorTest = function(callback,
     clearTimeout(timeoutId);
     console.log('[err]', text);
     if (found) return;
-    const match = text.match(/Debugger listening on ws:\/\/(.+):(\d+)\/(.+)/);
+    const match = text.match(/Debugger listening on ws:\/\/.+:(\d+)\/.+/);
     found = true;
     child.stderr.removeListener('data', dataCallback);
     assert.ok(match, text);
-    callback(new Harness(match[2], child));
+    callback(new Harness(match[1], child));
   });
 
   child.stderr.on('data', dataCallback);
diff --git a/test/inspector/test-inspector.js b/test/inspector/test-inspector.js
index 19eb3601f0..313fba9bd9 100644
--- a/test/inspector/test-inspector.js
+++ b/test/inspector/test-inspector.js
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ function checkListResponse(err, response) {
   assert.strictEqual(1, response.length);
   assert.ok(response[0]['devtoolsFrontendUrl']);
   assert.ok(
-    response[0]['webSocketDebuggerUrl']
-      .match(/ws:\/\/127\.0\.0\.1:\d+\/[0-9A-Fa-f]{8}-/));
+    /ws:\/\/127\.0\.0\.1:\d+\/[0-9A-Fa-f]{8}-/
+      .test(response[0]['webSocketDebuggerUrl']));
 }
 
 function checkVersion(err, response) {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-assert-checktag.js b/test/parallel/test-assert-checktag.js
index 027af93560..c4823243e7 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-assert-checktag.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-assert-checktag.js
@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@ const util = require('util');
 // for assert.throws()
 function re(literals, ...values) {
   let result = literals[0];
+  const escapeRE = /[\\^$.*+?()[\]{}|=!<>:-]/g;
   for (const [i, value] of values.entries()) {
     const str = util.inspect(value);
     // Need to escape special characters.
-    result += str.replace(/[\\^$.*+?()[\]{}|=!<>:-]/g, '\\$&');
+    result += str.replace(escapeRE, '\\$&');
     result += literals[i + 1];
   }
   return common.expectsError({
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-assert-deep.js b/test/parallel/test-assert-deep.js
index fecb5c89db..9f1c8dadf9 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-assert-deep.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-assert-deep.js
@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@ const util = require('util');
 // for assert.throws()
 function re(literals, ...values) {
   let result = literals[0];
+  const escapeRE = /[\\^$.*+?()[\]{}|=!<>:-]/g;
   for (const [i, value] of values.entries()) {
     const str = util.inspect(value);
     // Need to escape special characters.
-    result += str.replace(/[\\^$.*+?()[\]{}|=!<>:-]/g, '\\$&');
+    result += str.replace(escapeRE, '\\$&');
     result += literals[i + 1];
   }
   return common.expectsError({
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-assert.js b/test/parallel/test-assert.js
index 7b492374f0..561ce6d79b 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-assert.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-assert.js
@@ -722,13 +722,14 @@ assert.throws(() => {
 {
   // bad args to AssertionError constructor should throw TypeError
   const args = [1, true, false, '', null, Infinity, Symbol('test'), undefined];
+  const re = /^The "options" argument must be of type object$/;
   args.forEach((input) => {
     assert.throws(
       () => new assert.AssertionError(input),
       common.expectsError({
         code: 'ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE',
         type: TypeError,
-        message: /^The "options" argument must be of type object$/
+        message: re
       }));
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-buffer-bytelength.js b/test/parallel/test-buffer-bytelength.js
index 09e59743e4..8077cc7d5e 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-buffer-bytelength.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-buffer-bytelength.js
@@ -7,14 +7,11 @@ const SlowBuffer = require('buffer').SlowBuffer;
 const vm = require('vm');
 
 // coerce values to string
-assert.throws(() => { Buffer.byteLength(32, 'latin1'); },
-              /"string" must be a string, Buffer, or ArrayBuffer/);
-assert.throws(() => { Buffer.byteLength(NaN, 'utf8'); },
-              /"string" must be a string, Buffer, or ArrayBuffer/);
-assert.throws(() => { Buffer.byteLength({}, 'latin1'); },
-              /"string" must be a string, Buffer, or ArrayBuffer/);
-assert.throws(() => { Buffer.byteLength(); },
-              /"string" must be a string, Buffer, or ArrayBuffer/);
+const re = /"string" must be a string, Buffer, or ArrayBuffer/;
+assert.throws(() => { Buffer.byteLength(32, 'latin1'); }, re);
+assert.throws(() => { Buffer.byteLength(NaN, 'utf8'); }, re);
+assert.throws(() => { Buffer.byteLength({}, 'latin1'); }, re);
+assert.throws(() => { Buffer.byteLength(); }, re);
 
 assert.strictEqual(Buffer.byteLength('', undefined, true), -1);
 
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-buffer-prototype-inspect.js b/test/parallel/test-buffer-prototype-inspect.js
index 5f65a9bb28..9e6c66dc3d 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-buffer-prototype-inspect.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-buffer-prototype-inspect.js
@@ -19,5 +19,5 @@ const util = require('util');
 
 {
   const buf = Buffer.from('x'.repeat(51));
-  assert.ok(/^<Buffer (78 ){50}\.\.\. >$/.test(util.inspect(buf)));
+  assert.ok(/^<Buffer (?:78 ){50}\.\.\. >$/.test(util.inspect(buf)));
 }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-child-process-constructor.js b/test/parallel/test-child-process-constructor.js
index c495f1895d..8e62f5cc23 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-child-process-constructor.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-child-process-constructor.js
@@ -8,44 +8,48 @@ assert.strictEqual(typeof ChildProcess, 'function');
 {
   // Verify that invalid options to spawn() throw.
   const child = new ChildProcess();
+  const re = /^TypeError: "options" must be an object$/;
 
   [undefined, null, 'foo', 0, 1, NaN, true, false].forEach((options) => {
     assert.throws(() => {
       child.spawn(options);
-    }, /^TypeError: "options" must be an object$/);
+    }, re);
   });
 }
 
 {
   // Verify that spawn throws if file is not a string.
   const child = new ChildProcess();
+  const re = /^TypeError: "file" must be a string$/;
 
   [undefined, null, 0, 1, NaN, true, false, {}].forEach((file) => {
     assert.throws(() => {
       child.spawn({ file });
-    }, /^TypeError: "file" must be a string$/);
+    }, re);
   });
 }
 
 {
   // Verify that spawn throws if envPairs is not an array or undefined.
   const child = new ChildProcess();
+  const re = /^TypeError: "envPairs" must be an array$/;
 
   [null, 0, 1, NaN, true, false, {}, 'foo'].forEach((envPairs) => {
     assert.throws(() => {
       child.spawn({ envPairs, stdio: ['ignore', 'ignore', 'ignore', 'ipc'] });
-    }, /^TypeError: "envPairs" must be an array$/);
+    }, re);
   });
 }
 
 {
   // Verify that spawn throws if args is not an array or undefined.
   const child = new ChildProcess();
+  const re = /^TypeError: "args" must be an array$/;
 
   [null, 0, 1, NaN, true, false, {}, 'foo'].forEach((args) => {
     assert.throws(() => {
       child.spawn({ file: 'foo', args });
-    }, /^TypeError: "args" must be an array$/);
+    }, re);
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-cli-syntax.js b/test/parallel/test-cli-syntax.js
index eda45701a5..867f05256d 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-cli-syntax.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-cli-syntax.js
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ const syntaxArgs = [
   ['--check']
 ];
 
+const syntaxErrorRE = /^SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier$/m;
+const notFoundRE = /^Error: Cannot find module/m;
+
 // test good syntax with and without shebang
 [
   'syntax/good_syntax.js',
@@ -56,8 +59,7 @@ const syntaxArgs = [
     assert(c.stderr.startsWith(file), "stderr doesn't start with the filename");
 
     // stderr should have a syntax error message
-    const match = c.stderr.match(/^SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier$/m);
-    assert(match, 'stderr incorrect');
+    assert(syntaxErrorRE.test(c.stderr), 'stderr incorrect');
 
     assert.strictEqual(c.status, 1, `code === ${c.status}`);
   });
@@ -79,8 +81,7 @@ const syntaxArgs = [
     assert.strictEqual(c.stdout, '', 'stdout produced');
 
     // stderr should have a module not found error message
-    const match = c.stderr.match(/^Error: Cannot find module/m);
-    assert(match, 'stderr incorrect');
+    assert(notFoundRE.test(c.stderr), 'stderr incorrect');
 
     assert.strictEqual(c.status, 1, `code === ${c.status}`);
   });
@@ -112,8 +113,7 @@ syntaxArgs.forEach(function(args) {
   assert.strictEqual(c.stdout, '', 'stdout produced');
 
   // stderr should have a syntax error message
-  const match = c.stderr.match(/^SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier$/m);
-  assert(match, 'stderr incorrect');
+  assert(syntaxErrorRE.test(c.stderr), 'stderr incorrect');
 
   assert.strictEqual(c.status, 1, `code === ${c.status}`);
 });
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-crypto-authenticated.js b/test/parallel/test-crypto-authenticated.js
index c1d70efa5f..2d5370ba3e 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-crypto-authenticated.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-crypto-authenticated.js
@@ -328,6 +328,13 @@ const TEST_CASES = [
     tag: 'a44a8266ee1c8eb0c8b5d4cf5ae9f19a', tampered: false },
 ];
 
+const errMessages = {
+  auth: / auth/,
+  state: / state/,
+  FIPS: /not supported in FIPS mode/,
+  length: /Invalid IV length/,
+};
+
 const ciphers = crypto.getCiphers();
 
 for (const i in TEST_CASES) {
@@ -378,14 +385,14 @@ for (const i in TEST_CASES) {
       assert.strictEqual(msg, test.plain);
     } else {
       // assert that final throws if input data could not be verified!
-      assert.throws(function() { decrypt.final('ascii'); }, / auth/);
+      assert.throws(function() { decrypt.final('ascii'); }, errMessages.auth);
     }
   }
 
   if (test.password) {
     if (common.hasFipsCrypto) {
       assert.throws(() => { crypto.createCipher(test.algo, test.password); },
-                    /not supported in FIPS mode/);
+                    errMessages.FIPS);
     } else {
       const encrypt = crypto.createCipher(test.algo, test.password);
       if (test.aad)
@@ -404,7 +411,7 @@ for (const i in TEST_CASES) {
   if (test.password) {
     if (common.hasFipsCrypto) {
       assert.throws(() => { crypto.createDecipher(test.algo, test.password); },
-                    /not supported in FIPS mode/);
+                    errMessages.FIPS);
     } else {
       const decrypt = crypto.createDecipher(test.algo, test.password);
       decrypt.setAuthTag(Buffer.from(test.tag, 'hex'));
@@ -416,7 +423,7 @@ for (const i in TEST_CASES) {
         assert.strictEqual(msg, test.plain);
       } else {
         // assert that final throws if input data could not be verified!
-        assert.throws(function() { decrypt.final('ascii'); }, / auth/);
+        assert.throws(function() { decrypt.final('ascii'); }, errMessages.auth);
       }
     }
   }
@@ -427,7 +434,7 @@ for (const i in TEST_CASES) {
                                           Buffer.from(test.key, 'hex'),
                                           Buffer.from(test.iv, 'hex'));
     encrypt.update('blah', 'ascii');
-    assert.throws(function() { encrypt.getAuthTag(); }, / state/);
+    assert.throws(function() { encrypt.getAuthTag(); }, errMessages.state);
   }
 
   {
@@ -436,7 +443,7 @@ for (const i in TEST_CASES) {
                                           Buffer.from(test.key, 'hex'),
                                           Buffer.from(test.iv, 'hex'));
     assert.throws(() => { encrypt.setAuthTag(Buffer.from(test.tag, 'hex')); },
-                  / state/);
+                  errMessages.state);
   }
 
   {
@@ -444,7 +451,7 @@ for (const i in TEST_CASES) {
     const decrypt = crypto.createDecipheriv(test.algo,
                                             Buffer.from(test.key, 'hex'),
                                             Buffer.from(test.iv, 'hex'));
-    assert.throws(function() { decrypt.getAuthTag(); }, / state/);
+    assert.throws(function() { decrypt.getAuthTag(); }, errMessages.state);
   }
 
   {
@@ -455,7 +462,7 @@ for (const i in TEST_CASES) {
         Buffer.from(test.key, 'hex'),
         Buffer.alloc(0)
       );
-    }, /Invalid IV length/);
+    }, errMessages.length);
   }
 }
 
@@ -467,6 +474,7 @@ for (const i in TEST_CASES) {
                             '6fKjEjR3Vl30EUYC');
   encrypt.update('blah', 'ascii');
   encrypt.final();
-  assert.throws(() => encrypt.getAuthTag(), / state/);
-  assert.throws(() => encrypt.setAAD(Buffer.from('123', 'ascii')), / state/);
+  assert.throws(() => encrypt.getAuthTag(), errMessages.state);
+  assert.throws(() => encrypt.setAAD(Buffer.from('123', 'ascii')),
+                errMessages.state);
 }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-crypto-cipheriv-decipheriv.js b/test/parallel/test-crypto-cipheriv-decipheriv.js
index a03a25d511..31a79d8bf1 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-crypto-cipheriv-decipheriv.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-crypto-cipheriv-decipheriv.js
@@ -66,12 +66,14 @@ testCipher2(Buffer.from('0123456789abcd0123456789'), Buffer.from('12345678'));
 // Zero-sized IV should be accepted in ECB mode.
 crypto.createCipheriv('aes-128-ecb', Buffer.alloc(16), Buffer.alloc(0));
 
+const errMessage = /Invalid IV length/;
+
 // But non-empty IVs should be rejected.
 for (let n = 1; n < 256; n += 1) {
   assert.throws(
       () => crypto.createCipheriv('aes-128-ecb', Buffer.alloc(16),
                                   Buffer.alloc(n)),
-      /Invalid IV length/);
+      errMessage);
 }
 
 // Correctly sized IV should be accepted in CBC mode.
@@ -83,14 +85,14 @@ for (let n = 0; n < 256; n += 1) {
   assert.throws(
       () => crypto.createCipheriv('aes-128-cbc', Buffer.alloc(16),
                                   Buffer.alloc(n)),
-      /Invalid IV length/);
+      errMessage);
 }
 
 // Zero-sized IV should be rejected in GCM mode.
 assert.throws(
     () => crypto.createCipheriv('aes-128-gcm', Buffer.alloc(16),
                                 Buffer.alloc(0)),
-    /Invalid IV length/);
+    errMessage);
 
 // But all other IV lengths should be accepted.
 for (let n = 1; n < 256; n += 1) {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-crypto-dh.js b/test/parallel/test-crypto-dh.js
index 285f35b830..91a066d1bd 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-crypto-dh.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-crypto-dh.js
@@ -295,14 +295,15 @@ if (availableCurves.has('prime256v1') && availableCurves.has('secp256k1')) {
   // rejected.
   ecdh5.setPrivateKey(cafebabeKey, 'hex');
 
-  [ // Some invalid private keys for the secp256k1 curve.
-    '0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000',
-    'FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFEBAAEDCE6AF48A03BBFD25E8CD0364141',
-    'FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF',
+  // Some invalid private keys for the secp256k1 curve.
+  const errMessage = /^Error: Private key is not valid for specified curve\.$/;
+  ['0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000',
+   'FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFEBAAEDCE6AF48A03BBFD25E8CD0364141',
+   'FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF',
   ].forEach((element) => {
     assert.throws(() => {
       ecdh5.setPrivateKey(element, 'hex');
-    }, /^Error: Private key is not valid for specified curve\.$/);
+    }, errMessage);
     // Verify object state did not change.
     assert.strictEqual(ecdh5.getPrivateKey('hex'), cafebabeKey);
   });
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-crypto-random.js b/test/parallel/test-crypto-random.js
index fd9e71bb08..c60e3b2681 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-crypto-random.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-crypto-random.js
@@ -140,6 +140,14 @@ const expectedErrorRegexp = /^TypeError: size must be a number >= 0$/;
     Buffer.alloc(10),
     new Uint8Array(new Array(10).fill(0))
   ];
+  const errMessages = {
+    offsetNotNumber: /offset must be a number/,
+    offsetOutOfRange: /offset out of range/,
+    offsetNotUInt32: /offset must be a uint32/,
+    sizeNotNumber: /size must be a number/,
+    sizeNotUInt32: /size must be a uint32/,
+    bufferTooSmall: /buffer too small/,
+  };
 
   for (const buf of bufs) {
     const len = Buffer.byteLength(buf);
@@ -147,108 +155,108 @@ const expectedErrorRegexp = /^TypeError: size must be a number >= 0$/;
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFillSync(buf, 'test');
-    }, /offset must be a number/);
+    }, errMessages.offsetNotNumber);
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFillSync(buf, NaN);
-    }, /offset must be a number/);
+    }, errMessages.offsetNotNumber);
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFill(buf, 'test', common.mustNotCall());
-    }, /offset must be a number/);
+    }, errMessages.offsetNotNumber);
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFill(buf, NaN, common.mustNotCall());
-    }, /offset must be a number/);
+    }, errMessages.offsetNotNumber);
 
     const max = require('buffer').kMaxLength + 1;
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFillSync(buf, 11);
-    }, /offset out of range/);
+    }, errMessages.offsetOutOfRange);
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFillSync(buf, max);
-    }, /offset out of range/);
+    }, errMessages.offsetOutOfRange);
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFill(buf, 11, common.mustNotCall());
-    }, /offset out of range/);
+    }, errMessages.offsetOutOfRange);
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFill(buf, max, common.mustNotCall());
-    }, /offset out of range/);
+    }, errMessages.offsetOutOfRange);
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFillSync(buf, 0, 'test');
-    }, /size must be a number/);
+    }, errMessages.sizeNotNumber);
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFillSync(buf, 0, NaN);
-    }, /size must be a number/);
+    }, errMessages.sizeNotNumber);
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFill(buf, 0, 'test', common.mustNotCall());
-    }, /size must be a number/);
+    }, errMessages.sizeNotNumber);
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFill(buf, 0, NaN, common.mustNotCall());
-    }, /size must be a number/);
+    }, errMessages.sizeNotNumber);
 
     {
       const size = (-1 >>> 0) + 1;
 
       assert.throws(() => {
         crypto.randomFillSync(buf, 0, -10);
-      }, /size must be a uint32/);
+      }, errMessages.sizeNotUInt32);
 
       assert.throws(() => {
         crypto.randomFillSync(buf, 0, size);
-      }, /size must be a uint32/);
+      }, errMessages.sizeNotUInt32);
 
       assert.throws(() => {
         crypto.randomFill(buf, 0, -10, common.mustNotCall());
-      }, /size must be a uint32/);
+      }, errMessages.sizeNotUInt32);
 
       assert.throws(() => {
         crypto.randomFill(buf, 0, size, common.mustNotCall());
-      }, /size must be a uint32/);
+      }, errMessages.sizeNotUInt32);
     }
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFillSync(buf, -10);
-    }, /offset must be a uint32/);
+    }, errMessages.offsetNotUInt32);
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFill(buf, -10, common.mustNotCall());
-    }, /offset must be a uint32/);
+    }, errMessages.offsetNotUInt32);
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFillSync(buf, 1, 10);
-    }, /buffer too small/);
+    }, errMessages.bufferTooSmall);
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFill(buf, 1, 10, common.mustNotCall());
-    }, /buffer too small/);
+    }, errMessages.bufferTooSmall);
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFillSync(buf, 0, 12);
-    }, /buffer too small/);
+    }, errMessages.bufferTooSmall);
 
     assert.throws(() => {
       crypto.randomFill(buf, 0, 12, common.mustNotCall());
-    }, /buffer too small/);
+    }, errMessages.bufferTooSmall);
 
     {
       // Offset is too big
       const offset = (-1 >>> 0) + 1;
       assert.throws(() => {
         crypto.randomFillSync(buf, offset, 10);
-      }, /offset must be a uint32/);
+      }, errMessages.offsetNotUInt32);
 
       assert.throws(() => {
         crypto.randomFill(buf, offset, 10, common.mustNotCall());
-      }, /offset must be a uint32/);
+      }, errMessages.offsetNotUInt32);
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-crypto-sign-verify.js b/test/parallel/test-crypto-sign-verify.js
index 52daf2e6ff..2a64b6d072 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-crypto-sign-verify.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-crypto-sign-verify.js
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ const modSize = 1024;
       getEffectiveSaltLength(crypto.constants.RSA_PSS_SALTLEN_MAX_SIGN),
       0, 16, 32, 64, 128
     ];
+    const errMessage = /^Error:.*data too large for key size$/;
 
     signSaltLengths.forEach((signSaltLength) => {
       if (signSaltLength > max) {
@@ -117,7 +118,7 @@ const modSize = 1024;
               padding: crypto.constants.RSA_PKCS1_PSS_PADDING,
               saltLength: signSaltLength
             });
-        }, /^Error:.*data too large for key size$/);
+        }, errMessage);
       } else {
         // Otherwise, a valid signature should be generated
         const s4 = crypto.createSign(algo)
@@ -200,6 +201,9 @@ const modSize = 1024;
 
 // Test exceptions for invalid `padding` and `saltLength` values
 {
+  const paddingNotInteger = /^TypeError: padding must be an integer$/;
+  const saltLengthNotInteger = /^TypeError: saltLength must be an integer$/;
+
   [null, undefined, NaN, 'boom', {}, [], true, false]
     .forEach((invalidValue) => {
       assert.throws(() => {
@@ -209,7 +213,7 @@ const modSize = 1024;
             key: keyPem,
             padding: invalidValue
           });
-      }, /^TypeError: padding must be an integer$/);
+      }, paddingNotInteger);
 
       assert.throws(() => {
         crypto.createSign('RSA-SHA256')
@@ -219,7 +223,7 @@ const modSize = 1024;
             padding: crypto.constants.RSA_PKCS1_PSS_PADDING,
             saltLength: invalidValue
           });
-      }, /^TypeError: saltLength must be an integer$/);
+      }, saltLengthNotInteger);
     });
 
   assert.throws(() => {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-crypto.js b/test/parallel/test-crypto.js
index 19fb6f2687..a7638d3cd8 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-crypto.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-crypto.js
@@ -99,7 +99,8 @@ validateList(cryptoCiphers);
 const tlsCiphers = tls.getCiphers();
 assert(tls.getCiphers().includes('aes256-sha'));
 // There should be no capital letters in any element.
-assert(tlsCiphers.every((value) => /^[^A-Z]+$/.test(value)));
+const noCapitals = /^[^A-Z]+$/;
+assert(tlsCiphers.every((value) => noCapitals.test(value)));
 validateList(tlsCiphers);
 
 // Assert that we have sha and sha1 but not SHA and SHA1.
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-dgram-createSocket-type.js b/test/parallel/test-dgram-createSocket-type.js
index e6b17251f8..125a9d0be5 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-dgram-createSocket-type.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-dgram-createSocket-type.js
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ const validTypes = [
   { type: 'udp4' },
   { type: 'udp6' }
 ];
+const errMessage = /^Bad socket type specified\. Valid types are: udp4, udp6$/;
 
 // Error must be thrown with invalid types
 invalidTypes.forEach((invalidType) => {
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ invalidTypes.forEach((invalidType) => {
   }, common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_SOCKET_BAD_TYPE',
     type: Error,
-    message: /^Bad socket type specified\. Valid types are: udp4, udp6$/
+    message: errMessage
   }));
 });
 
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-error-reporting.js b/test/parallel/test-error-reporting.js
index cdd066f959..8a96129979 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-error-reporting.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-error-reporting.js
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ function errExec(script, callback) {
   });
 }
 
+const syntaxErrorMessage = /SyntaxError/;
+
 
 // Simple throw error
 errExec('throws_error.js', common.mustCall(function(err, stdout, stderr) {
@@ -51,30 +53,30 @@ errExec('throws_error.js', common.mustCall(function(err, stdout, stderr) {
 
 // Trying to JSON.parse(undefined)
 errExec('throws_error2.js', common.mustCall(function(err, stdout, stderr) {
-  assert.ok(/SyntaxError/.test(stderr));
+  assert.ok(syntaxErrorMessage.test(stderr));
 }));
 
 
 // Trying to JSON.parse(undefined) in nextTick
 errExec('throws_error3.js', common.mustCall(function(err, stdout, stderr) {
-  assert.ok(/SyntaxError/.test(stderr));
+  assert.ok(syntaxErrorMessage.test(stderr));
 }));
 
 
 // throw ILLEGAL error
 errExec('throws_error4.js', common.mustCall(function(err, stdout, stderr) {
   assert.ok(/\/\*\*/.test(stderr));
-  assert.ok(/SyntaxError/.test(stderr));
+  assert.ok(syntaxErrorMessage.test(stderr));
 }));
 
 // Specific long exception line doesn't result in stack overflow
 errExec('throws_error5.js', common.mustCall(function(err, stdout, stderr) {
-  assert.ok(/SyntaxError/.test(stderr));
+  assert.ok(syntaxErrorMessage.test(stderr));
 }));
 
 // Long exception line with length > errorBuffer doesn't result in assertion
 errExec('throws_error6.js', common.mustCall(function(err, stdout, stderr) {
-  assert.ok(/SyntaxError/.test(stderr));
+  assert.ok(syntaxErrorMessage.test(stderr));
 }));
 
 // Object that throws in toString() doesn't print garbage
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-max-listeners.js b/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-max-listeners.js
index 614801e397..cf8c072271 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-max-listeners.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-max-listeners.js
@@ -31,12 +31,12 @@ e.on('maxListeners', common.mustCall());
 e.setMaxListeners(42);
 
 const throwsObjs = [NaN, -1, 'and even this'];
+const maxError = /^TypeError: "n" argument must be a positive number$/;
+const defError = /^TypeError: "defaultMaxListeners" must be a positive number$/;
 
 for (const obj of throwsObjs) {
-  assert.throws(() => e.setMaxListeners(obj),
-                /^TypeError: "n" argument must be a positive number$/);
-  assert.throws(() => events.defaultMaxListeners = obj,
-                /^TypeError: "defaultMaxListeners" must be a positive number$/);
+  assert.throws(() => e.setMaxListeners(obj), maxError);
+  assert.throws(() => events.defaultMaxListeners = obj, defError);
 }
 
 e.emit('maxListeners');
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-fs-null-bytes.js b/test/parallel/test-fs-null-bytes.js
index e9f421a6c4..a21fe516a0 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-fs-null-bytes.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-fs-null-bytes.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ function check(async, sync) {
   const expected = /Path must be a string without null bytes/;
   const argsSync = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 2);
   const argsAsync = argsSync.concat((er) => {
-    assert(er && er.message.match(expected));
+    assert(er && expected.test(er.message));
     assert.strictEqual(er.code, 'ENOENT');
   });
 
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-fs-read-stream-throw-type-error.js b/test/parallel/test-fs-read-stream-throw-type-error.js
index bc1fca3a3c..6e4f405daa 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-fs-read-stream-throw-type-error.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-fs-read-stream-throw-type-error.js
@@ -19,15 +19,16 @@ assert.doesNotThrow(function() {
   fs.createReadStream(example, {encoding: 'utf8'});
 });
 
+const errMessage = /"options" must be a string or an object/;
 assert.throws(function() {
   fs.createReadStream(example, 123);
-}, /"options" must be a string or an object/);
+}, errMessage);
 assert.throws(function() {
   fs.createReadStream(example, 0);
-}, /"options" must be a string or an object/);
+}, errMessage);
 assert.throws(function() {
   fs.createReadStream(example, true);
-}, /"options" must be a string or an object/);
+}, errMessage);
 assert.throws(function() {
   fs.createReadStream(example, false);
-}, /"options" must be a string or an object/);
+}, errMessage);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-global-console-exists.js b/test/parallel/test-global-console-exists.js
index 425eac077a..29b92f8481 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-global-console-exists.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-global-console-exists.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ const leakWarning = /EventEmitter memory leak detected\. 2 hello listeners/;
 
 common.hijackStderr(common.mustCall(function(data) {
   if (process.stderr.writeTimes === 0) {
-    assert.ok(data.match(leakWarning));
+    assert.ok(leakWarning.test(data));
   } else {
     assert.fail('stderr.write should be called only once');
   }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-http-client-unescaped-path.js b/test/parallel/test-http-client-unescaped-path.js
index d991e9f75e..11faaec41a 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-http-client-unescaped-path.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-http-client-unescaped-path.js
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ const common = require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 const http = require('http');
 
+const errMessage = /contains unescaped characters/;
 for (let i = 0; i <= 32; i += 1) {
   const path = `bad${String.fromCharCode(i)}path`;
-  assert.throws(() => http.get({ path }, common.mustNotCall()),
-                /contains unescaped characters/);
+  assert.throws(() => http.get({ path }, common.mustNotCall()), errMessage);
 }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-http-hostname-typechecking.js b/test/parallel/test-http-hostname-typechecking.js
index 5fd776db27..c3b702896d 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-http-hostname-typechecking.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-http-hostname-typechecking.js
@@ -8,14 +8,14 @@ const http = require('http');
 // when passed as the value of either options.hostname or options.host
 const vals = [{}, [], NaN, Infinity, -Infinity, true, false, 1, 0, new Date()];
 
-function errCheck(name) {
-  return new RegExp(`^TypeError: "options\\.${name}" must either be a ` +
-                    'string, undefined or null$');
-}
+const errHostname =
+  /^TypeError: "options\.hostname" must either be a string, undefined or null$/;
+const errHost =
+  /^TypeError: "options\.host" must either be a string, undefined or null$/;
 
 vals.forEach((v) => {
-  assert.throws(() => http.request({hostname: v}), errCheck('hostname'));
-  assert.throws(() => http.request({host: v}), errCheck('host'));
+  assert.throws(() => http.request({hostname: v}), errHostname);
+  assert.throws(() => http.request({host: v}), errHost);
 });
 
 // These values are OK and should not throw synchronously
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-http-server.js b/test/parallel/test-http-server.js
index 701d91f623..85b2be52fe 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-http-server.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-http-server.js
@@ -116,10 +116,10 @@ process.on('exit', function() {
   assert.strictEqual(4, requests_sent);
 
   const hello = new RegExp('/hello');
-  assert.notStrictEqual(null, hello.exec(server_response));
+  assert.ok(hello.test(server_response));
 
   const quit = new RegExp('/quit');
-  assert.notStrictEqual(null, quit.exec(server_response));
+  assert.ok(quit.test(server_response));
 
   assert.strictEqual(true, client_got_eof);
 });
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-icu-punycode.js b/test/parallel/test-icu-punycode.js
index 13db2dd7ba..9488568267 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-icu-punycode.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-icu-punycode.js
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ const wptToASCIITests = require('../fixtures/url-toascii.js');
 }
 
 {
+  const errMessage = /^Error: Cannot convert name to ASCII$/;
+
   for (const [i, test] of wptToASCIITests.entries()) {
     if (typeof test === 'string')
       continue; // skip comments
@@ -33,8 +35,7 @@ const wptToASCIITests = require('../fixtures/url-toascii.js');
       caseComment += ` (${comment})`;
     if (output === null) {
       assert.throws(() => icu.toASCII(input),
-                    /^Error: Cannot convert name to ASCII$/,
-                    `ToASCII ${caseComment}`);
+                    errMessage, `ToASCII ${caseComment}`);
       assert.doesNotThrow(() => icu.toASCII(input, true),
                           `ToASCII ${caseComment} in lenient mode`);
     } else {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-internal-errors.js b/test/parallel/test-internal-errors.js
index c97b522e4a..8e06bab349 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-internal-errors.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-internal-errors.js
@@ -5,6 +5,13 @@ const common = require('../common');
 const errors = require('internal/errors');
 const assert = require('assert');
 
+const errMessages = {
+  objectString: /^'object' === 'string'$/,
+  booleanString: /^'boolean' === 'string'$/,
+  numberString: /^'number' === 'string'$/,
+  invalidKey: /^An invalid error message key was used: TEST_FOO_KEY\.$/,
+};
+
 errors.E('TEST_ERROR_1', 'Error for testing purposes: %s');
 errors.E('TEST_ERROR_2', (a, b) => `${a} ${b}`);
 
@@ -43,86 +50,86 @@ assert.throws(
   () => new errors.Error('TEST_FOO_KEY'),
   common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
-    message: /^An invalid error message key was used: TEST_FOO_KEY\.$/
+    message: errMessages.invalidKey
   }));
 // Calling it twice yields same result (using the key does not create it)
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.Error('TEST_FOO_KEY'),
   common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
-    message: /^An invalid error message key was used: TEST_FOO_KEY\.$/
+    message: errMessages.invalidKey
   }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.Error(1),
   common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
-    message: /^'number' === 'string'$/
+    message: errMessages.numberString
   }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.Error({}),
   common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
-    message: /^'object' === 'string'$/
+    message: errMessages.objectString
   }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.Error([]),
   common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
-    message: /^'object' === 'string'$/
+    message: errMessages.objectString
   }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.Error(true),
   common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
-    message: /^'boolean' === 'string'$/
+    message: errMessages.booleanString
   }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.TypeError(1),
   common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
-    message: /^'number' === 'string'$/
+    message: errMessages.numberString
   }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.TypeError({}),
   common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
-    message: /^'object' === 'string'$/
+    message: errMessages.objectString
   }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.TypeError([]),
   common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
-    message: /^'object' === 'string'$/
+    message: errMessages.objectString
   }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.TypeError(true),
   common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
-    message: /^'boolean' === 'string'$/
+    message: errMessages.booleanString
   }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.RangeError(1),
   common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
-    message: /^'number' === 'string'$/
+    message: errMessages.numberString
   }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.RangeError({}),
   common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
-    message: /^'object' === 'string'$/
+    message: errMessages.objectString
   }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.RangeError([]),
   common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
-    message: /^'object' === 'string'$/
+    message: errMessages.objectString
   }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.RangeError(true),
   common.expectsError({
     code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
-    message: /^'boolean' === 'string'$/
+    message: errMessages.booleanString
   }));
 
 
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-net-connect-options-port.js b/test/parallel/test-net-connect-options-port.js
index b3c370c8d9..1a2bd850f3 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-net-connect-options-port.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-net-connect-options-port.js
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ function canConnect(port) {
 
 function asyncFailToConnect(port) {
   const onError = () => common.mustCall(function(err) {
-    const regexp = /^Error: connect (E\w+)(.+)$/;
+    const regexp = /^Error: connect E\w+.+$/;
     assert(regexp.test(String(err)), String(err));
   });
 
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-path.js b/test/parallel/test-path.js
index c9729ae875..4ee3740038 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-path.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-path.js
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ const path = require('path');
 const f = __filename;
 const failures = [];
 
+const slashRE = /\//g;
+const backslashRE = /\\/g;
+
 // path.basename tests
 assert.strictEqual(path.basename(f), 'test-path.js');
 assert.strictEqual(path.basename(f, '.js'), 'test-path');
@@ -188,7 +191,7 @@ assert.strictEqual(path.win32.dirname('foo'), '.');
     let input = test[0];
     let os;
     if (extname === path.win32.extname) {
-      input = input.replace(/\//g, '\\');
+      input = input.replace(slashRE, '\\');
       os = 'win32';
     } else {
       os = 'posix';
@@ -345,7 +348,7 @@ joinTests.forEach((test) => {
       let actualAlt;
       let os;
       if (join === path.win32.join) {
-        actualAlt = actual.replace(/\\/g, '/');
+        actualAlt = actual.replace(backslashRE, '/');
         os = 'win32';
       } else {
         os = 'posix';
@@ -451,9 +454,9 @@ resolveTests.forEach((test) => {
     let actualAlt;
     const os = resolve === path.win32.resolve ? 'win32' : 'posix';
     if (resolve === path.win32.resolve && !common.isWindows)
-      actualAlt = actual.replace(/\\/g, '/');
+      actualAlt = actual.replace(backslashRE, '/');
     else if (resolve !== path.win32.resolve && common.isWindows)
-      actualAlt = actual.replace(/\//g, '\\');
+      actualAlt = actual.replace(slashRE, '\\');
 
     const expected = test[1];
     const message =
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-process-chdir.js b/test/parallel/test-process-chdir.js
index b137be4611..61707706a3 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-process-chdir.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-process-chdir.js
@@ -31,9 +31,10 @@ process.chdir('..');
 assert.strictEqual(process.cwd().normalize(),
                    path.resolve(common.tmpDir).normalize());
 
+const errMessage = /^TypeError: Bad argument\.$/;
 assert.throws(function() { process.chdir({}); },
-              /^TypeError: Bad argument\.$/, 'Bad argument.');
+              errMessage, 'Bad argument.');
 assert.throws(function() { process.chdir(); },
-              /^TypeError: Bad argument\.$/, 'Bad argument.');
+              errMessage, 'Bad argument.');
 assert.throws(function() { process.chdir('x', 'y'); },
-              /^TypeError: Bad argument\.$/, 'Bad argument.');
+              errMessage, 'Bad argument.');
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-process-emitwarning.js b/test/parallel/test-process-emitwarning.js
index 61ca05cfe9..d2d090eae3 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-process-emitwarning.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-process-emitwarning.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ const testType = 'CustomWarning';
 
 process.on('warning', common.mustCall((warning) => {
   assert(warning);
-  assert(/^(Warning|CustomWarning)/.test(warning.name));
+  assert(/^(?:Warning|CustomWarning)/.test(warning.name));
   assert.strictEqual(warning.message, testMsg);
   if (warning.code) assert.strictEqual(warning.code, testCode);
   if (warning.detail) assert.strictEqual(warning.detail, testDetail);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-process-setuid-setgid.js b/test/parallel/test-process-setuid-setgid.js
index 1feb4248d1..e0db8ee002 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-process-setuid-setgid.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-process-setuid-setgid.js
@@ -46,12 +46,12 @@ if (process.getuid() !== 0) {
 
   assert.throws(
     () => { process.setgid('nobody'); },
-    /^Error: (EPERM, .+|setgid group id does not exist)$/
+    /^Error: (?:EPERM, .+|setgid group id does not exist)$/
   );
 
   assert.throws(
     () => { process.setuid('nobody'); },
-    /^Error: (EPERM, .+|setuid user id does not exist)$/
+    /^Error: (?:EPERM, .+|setuid user id does not exist)$/
   );
   return;
 }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-process-versions.js b/test/parallel/test-process-versions.js
index 4da16379d5..02eeb93cb1 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-process-versions.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-process-versions.js
@@ -21,10 +21,13 @@ const actual_keys = Object.keys(process.versions).sort();
 
 assert.deepStrictEqual(actual_keys, expected_keys);
 
-assert(/^\d+\.\d+\.\d+(-.*)?$/.test(process.versions.ares));
-assert(/^\d+\.\d+\.\d+(-.*)?$/.test(process.versions.http_parser));
-assert(/^\d+\.\d+\.\d+(-.*)?$/.test(process.versions.node));
-assert(/^\d+\.\d+\.\d+(-.*)?$/.test(process.versions.uv));
-assert(/^\d+\.\d+\.\d+(-.*)?$/.test(process.versions.zlib));
-assert(/^\d+\.\d+\.\d+(\.\d+)?( \(candidate\))?$/.test(process.versions.v8));
+const commonTemplate = /^\d+\.\d+\.\d+(?:-.*)?$/;
+
+assert(commonTemplate.test(process.versions.ares));
+assert(commonTemplate.test(process.versions.http_parser));
+assert(commonTemplate.test(process.versions.node));
+assert(commonTemplate.test(process.versions.uv));
+assert(commonTemplate.test(process.versions.zlib));
+
+assert(/^\d+\.\d+\.\d+(?:\.\d+)?(?: \(candidate\))?$/.test(process.versions.v8));
 assert(/^\d+$/.test(process.versions.modules));
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-repl.js b/test/parallel/test-repl.js
index 86dd96d550..703300b333 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-repl.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-repl.js
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ function error_test() {
         let expect = client_unix.expect;
         if (expect === prompt_multiline)
           expect = /[.]{3} /;
-        assert.ok(read_buffer.match(expect));
+        assert.ok(RegExp(expect).test(read_buffer));
         console.error('match');
       }
       read_buffer = '';
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ function error_test() {
       expect: /^(?!repl)/ },
     // Avoid emitting stack trace
     { client: client_unix, send: 'a = 3.5e',
-      expect: /^(?!\s+at\s)/gm },
+      expect: /^(?!\s+at\s)/m },
 
     // https://github.com/nodejs/node/issues/9850
     { client: client_unix, send: 'function* foo() {}; foo().next();',
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-require-json.js b/test/parallel/test-require-json.js
index 2ab86f0fb9..45581b186c 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-require-json.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-require-json.js
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ const assert = require('assert');
 try {
   require(path.join(common.fixturesDir, 'invalid.json'));
 } catch (err) {
-  const re = /test[/\\]fixtures[/\\]invalid\.json: Unexpected string/;
-  const i = err.message.match(re);
-  assert.notStrictEqual(null, i, 'require() json error should include path');
+  assert.ok(
+    /test[/\\]fixtures[/\\]invalid\.json: Unexpected string/.test(err.message),
+    'require() json error should include path');
 }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-socket-address.js b/test/parallel/test-socket-address.js
index 3e05f89f08..ccffc5300b 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-socket-address.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-socket-address.js
@@ -12,6 +12,6 @@ server.listen(0, common.mustCall(function() {
     return -1;
   };
   assert.throws(() => this.address(),
-                /^Error: address ([\w|\s-\d])+$/);
+                /^Error: address [\w|\s-\d]+$/);
   server.close();
 }));
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-stream-readable-invalid-chunk.js b/test/parallel/test-stream-readable-invalid-chunk.js
index 3db42e18cd..990154144a 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-stream-readable-invalid-chunk.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-stream-readable-invalid-chunk.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const readable = new stream.Readable({
   read: common.noop
 });
 
-assert.throws(() => readable.push([]), /Invalid non-string\/buffer chunk/);
-assert.throws(() => readable.push({}), /Invalid non-string\/buffer chunk/);
-assert.throws(() => readable.push(0), /Invalid non-string\/buffer chunk/);
+const errMessage = /Invalid non-string\/buffer chunk/;
+assert.throws(() => readable.push([]), errMessage);
+assert.throws(() => readable.push({}), errMessage);
+assert.throws(() => readable.push(0), errMessage);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-string-decoder.js b/test/parallel/test-string-decoder.js
index 8de0f7ba16..87ab5e8d37 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-string-decoder.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-string-decoder.js
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ function test(encoding, input, expected, singleSequence) {
   } else {
     sequences = [singleSequence];
   }
+  const hexNumberRE = /.{2}/g;
   sequences.forEach((sequence) => {
     const decoder = new StringDecoder(encoding);
     let output = '';
@@ -155,7 +156,7 @@ function test(encoding, input, expected, singleSequence) {
       const message =
         'Expected "' + unicodeEscape(expected) + '", ' +
         'but got "' + unicodeEscape(output) + '"\n' +
-        'input: ' + input.toString('hex').match(/.{2}/g) + '\n' +
+        'input: ' + input.toString('hex').match(hexNumberRE) + '\n' +
         'Write sequence: ' + JSON.stringify(sequence) + '\n' +
         'Full Decoder State: ' + inspect(decoder);
       assert.fail(output, expected, message);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-timers-throw-when-cb-not-function.js b/test/parallel/test-timers-throw-when-cb-not-function.js
index 2aff904f06..4e866726c1 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-timers-throw-when-cb-not-function.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-timers-throw-when-cb-not-function.js
@@ -8,18 +8,14 @@ function doSetTimeout(callback, after) {
   };
 }
 
-assert.throws(doSetTimeout('foo'),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
-assert.throws(doSetTimeout({foo: 'bar'}),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
-assert.throws(doSetTimeout(),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
-assert.throws(doSetTimeout(undefined, 0),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
-assert.throws(doSetTimeout(null, 0),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
-assert.throws(doSetTimeout(false, 0),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
+const errMessage = /"callback" argument must be a function/;
+
+assert.throws(doSetTimeout('foo'), errMessage);
+assert.throws(doSetTimeout({foo: 'bar'}), errMessage);
+assert.throws(doSetTimeout(), errMessage);
+assert.throws(doSetTimeout(undefined, 0), errMessage);
+assert.throws(doSetTimeout(null, 0), errMessage);
+assert.throws(doSetTimeout(false, 0), errMessage);
 
 
 function doSetInterval(callback, after) {
@@ -28,18 +24,12 @@ function doSetInterval(callback, after) {
   };
 }
 
-assert.throws(doSetInterval('foo'),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
-assert.throws(doSetInterval({foo: 'bar'}),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
-assert.throws(doSetInterval(),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
-assert.throws(doSetInterval(undefined, 0),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
-assert.throws(doSetInterval(null, 0),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
-assert.throws(doSetInterval(false, 0),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
+assert.throws(doSetInterval('foo'), errMessage);
+assert.throws(doSetInterval({foo: 'bar'}), errMessage);
+assert.throws(doSetInterval(), errMessage);
+assert.throws(doSetInterval(undefined, 0), errMessage);
+assert.throws(doSetInterval(null, 0), errMessage);
+assert.throws(doSetInterval(false, 0), errMessage);
 
 
 function doSetImmediate(callback, after) {
@@ -48,15 +38,9 @@ function doSetImmediate(callback, after) {
   };
 }
 
-assert.throws(doSetImmediate('foo'),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
-assert.throws(doSetImmediate({foo: 'bar'}),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
-assert.throws(doSetImmediate(),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
-assert.throws(doSetImmediate(undefined, 0),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
-assert.throws(doSetImmediate(null, 0),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
-assert.throws(doSetImmediate(false, 0),
-              /"callback" argument must be a function/);
+assert.throws(doSetImmediate('foo'), errMessage);
+assert.throws(doSetImmediate({foo: 'bar'}), errMessage);
+assert.throws(doSetImmediate(), errMessage);
+assert.throws(doSetImmediate(undefined, 0), errMessage);
+assert.throws(doSetImmediate(null, 0), errMessage);
+assert.throws(doSetImmediate(false, 0), errMessage);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-tls-client-mindhsize.js b/test/parallel/test-tls-client-mindhsize.js
index f9bd0efea4..10fe196b53 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-tls-client-mindhsize.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-tls-client-mindhsize.js
@@ -78,13 +78,15 @@ testDHE1024();
 assert.throws(() => test(512, true, common.mustNotCall()),
               /DH parameter is less than 1024 bits/);
 
+let errMessage = /minDHSize is not a positive number/;
 [0, -1, -Infinity, NaN].forEach((minDHSize) => {
   assert.throws(() => tls.connect({ minDHSize }),
-                /minDHSize is not a positive number/);
+                errMessage);
 });
 
+errMessage = /minDHSize is not a number/;
 [true, false, null, undefined, {}, [], '', '1'].forEach((minDHSize) => {
-  assert.throws(() => tls.connect({ minDHSize }), /minDHSize is not a number/);
+  assert.throws(() => tls.connect({ minDHSize }), errMessage);
 });
 
 process.on('exit', function() {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-tls-env-bad-extra-ca.js b/test/parallel/test-tls-env-bad-extra-ca.js
index 12e4e3a4d9..57e4c1cfaf 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-tls-env-bad-extra-ca.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-tls-env-bad-extra-ca.js
@@ -33,9 +33,8 @@ fork(__filename, opts)
     assert.strictEqual(status, 0, 'client did not succeed in connecting');
   }))
   .on('close', common.mustCall(function() {
-    assert(stderr.match(
-      /Warning: Ignoring extra certs from.*no-such-file-exists.* load failed:.*No such file or directory/
-    ), stderr);
+    const re = /Warning: Ignoring extra certs from.*no-such-file-exists.* load failed:.*No such file or directory/;
+    assert(re.test(stderr), stderr);
   }))
   .stderr.setEncoding('utf8').on('data', function(str) {
     stderr += str;
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-tls-no-sslv23.js b/test/parallel/test-tls-no-sslv23.js
index ff1214d167..564efab26d 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-tls-no-sslv23.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-tls-no-sslv23.js
@@ -12,29 +12,33 @@ assert.throws(function() {
   tls.createSecureContext({ secureProtocol: 'blargh' });
 }, /Unknown method/);
 
+const errMessageSSLv2 = /SSLv2 methods disabled/;
+
 assert.throws(function() {
   tls.createSecureContext({ secureProtocol: 'SSLv2_method' });
-}, /SSLv2 methods disabled/);
+}, errMessageSSLv2);
 
 assert.throws(function() {
   tls.createSecureContext({ secureProtocol: 'SSLv2_client_method' });
-}, /SSLv2 methods disabled/);
+}, errMessageSSLv2);
 
 assert.throws(function() {
   tls.createSecureContext({ secureProtocol: 'SSLv2_server_method' });
-}, /SSLv2 methods disabled/);
+}, errMessageSSLv2);
+
+const errMessageSSLv3 = /SSLv3 methods disabled/;
 
 assert.throws(function() {
   tls.createSecureContext({ secureProtocol: 'SSLv3_method' });
-}, /SSLv3 methods disabled/);
+}, errMessageSSLv3);
 
 assert.throws(function() {
   tls.createSecureContext({ secureProtocol: 'SSLv3_client_method' });
-}, /SSLv3 methods disabled/);
+}, errMessageSSLv3);
 
 assert.throws(function() {
   tls.createSecureContext({ secureProtocol: 'SSLv3_server_method' });
-}, /SSLv3 methods disabled/);
+}, errMessageSSLv3);
 
 // Note that SSLv2 and SSLv3 are disallowed but SSLv2_method and friends are
 // still accepted.  They are OpenSSL's way of saying that all known protocols
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-tls-passphrase.js b/test/parallel/test-tls-passphrase.js
index 48777e1b05..20b5961fb4 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-tls-passphrase.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-tls-passphrase.js
@@ -225,6 +225,8 @@ server.listen(0, common.mustCall(function() {
   }, common.mustCall());
 })).unref();
 
+const errMessagePassword = /bad password read/;
+
 // Missing passphrase
 assert.throws(function() {
   tls.connect({
@@ -233,7 +235,7 @@ assert.throws(function() {
     cert: cert,
     rejectUnauthorized: false
   });
-}, /bad password read/);
+}, errMessagePassword);
 
 assert.throws(function() {
   tls.connect({
@@ -242,7 +244,7 @@ assert.throws(function() {
     cert: cert,
     rejectUnauthorized: false
   });
-}, /bad password read/);
+}, errMessagePassword);
 
 assert.throws(function() {
   tls.connect({
@@ -251,7 +253,9 @@ assert.throws(function() {
     cert: cert,
     rejectUnauthorized: false
   });
-}, /bad password read/);
+}, errMessagePassword);
+
+const errMessageDecrypt = /bad decrypt/;
 
 // Invalid passphrase
 assert.throws(function() {
@@ -262,7 +266,7 @@ assert.throws(function() {
     cert: cert,
     rejectUnauthorized: false
   });
-}, /bad decrypt/);
+}, errMessageDecrypt);
 
 assert.throws(function() {
   tls.connect({
@@ -272,7 +276,7 @@ assert.throws(function() {
     cert: cert,
     rejectUnauthorized: false
   });
-}, /bad decrypt/);
+}, errMessageDecrypt);
 
 assert.throws(function() {
   tls.connect({
@@ -282,7 +286,7 @@ assert.throws(function() {
     cert: cert,
     rejectUnauthorized: false
   });
-}, /bad decrypt/);
+}, errMessageDecrypt);
 
 assert.throws(function() {
   tls.connect({
@@ -292,4 +296,4 @@ assert.throws(function() {
     cert: cert,
     rejectUnauthorized: false
   });
-}, /bad decrypt/);
+}, errMessageDecrypt);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-tls-server-failed-handshake-emits-clienterror.js b/test/parallel/test-tls-server-failed-handshake-emits-clienterror.js
index 1ff7decf3c..0290bcc629 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-tls-server-failed-handshake-emits-clienterror.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-tls-server-failed-handshake-emits-clienterror.js
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ const server = tls.createServer({})
   }).on('tlsClientError', common.mustCall(function(e) {
     assert.ok(e instanceof Error,
               'Instance of Error should be passed to error handler');
-    assert.ok(e.message.match(
-      /SSL routines:SSL23_GET_CLIENT_HELLO:unknown protocol/),
-              'Expecting SSL unknown protocol');
+    assert.ok(
+      /SSL routines:SSL23_GET_CLIENT_HELLO:unknown protocol/.test(e.message),
+      'Expecting SSL unknown protocol');
 
     server.close();
   }));
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-tls-socket-failed-handshake-emits-error.js b/test/parallel/test-tls-socket-failed-handshake-emits-error.js
index ffeb42c8eb..106a14a7df 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-tls-socket-failed-handshake-emits-error.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-tls-socket-failed-handshake-emits-error.js
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ const server = net.createServer(function(c) {
     s.on('error', common.mustCall(function(e) {
       assert.ok(e instanceof Error,
                 'Instance of Error should be passed to error handler');
-      assert.ok(e.message.match(
-        /SSL routines:SSL23_GET_CLIENT_HELLO:unknown protocol/),
-                'Expecting SSL unknown protocol');
+      assert.ok(
+        /SSL routines:SSL23_GET_CLIENT_HELLO:unknown protocol/.test(e.message),
+        'Expecting SSL unknown protocol');
     }));
 
     s.on('close', function() {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-url-parse-invalid-input.js b/test/parallel/test-url-parse-invalid-input.js
index a6de25e10c..a259112332 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-url-parse-invalid-input.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-url-parse-invalid-input.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ const assert = require('assert');
 const url = require('url');
 
 // https://github.com/joyent/node/issues/568
+const errMessage = /^TypeError: Parameter "url" must be a string, not (?:undefined|boolean|number|object|function|symbol)$/;
 [
   undefined,
   null,
@@ -16,8 +17,7 @@ const url = require('url');
   () => {},
   Symbol('foo')
 ].forEach((val) => {
-  assert.throws(() => { url.parse(val); },
-                /^TypeError: Parameter "url" must be a string, not (undefined|boolean|number|object|function|symbol)$/);
+  assert.throws(() => { url.parse(val); }, errMessage);
 });
 
 assert.throws(() => { url.parse('http://%E0%A4%A@fail'); },
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-util-inspect.js b/test/parallel/test-util-inspect.js
index 3edaac7370..2d05a55e2c 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-util-inspect.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-util-inspect.js
@@ -837,9 +837,10 @@ if (typeof Symbol !== 'undefined') {
 {
   function checkAlignment(container) {
     const lines = util.inspect(container).split('\n');
+    const numRE = /\d/;
     let pos;
     lines.forEach((line) => {
-      const npos = line.search(/\d/);
+      const npos = line.search(numRE);
       if (npos !== -1) {
         if (pos !== undefined) {
           assert.strictEqual(pos, npos, 'container items not aligned');
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-util-internal.js b/test/parallel/test-util-internal.js
index 5131353abb..9c016f3c3e 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-util-internal.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-util-internal.js
@@ -20,26 +20,29 @@ function setHiddenValue(obj, index, val) {
   };
 }
 
-assert.throws(getHiddenValue(), /obj must be an object/);
-assert.throws(getHiddenValue(null, 'foo'), /obj must be an object/);
-assert.throws(getHiddenValue(undefined, 'foo'), /obj must be an object/);
-assert.throws(getHiddenValue('bar', 'foo'), /obj must be an object/);
-assert.throws(getHiddenValue(85, 'foo'), /obj must be an object/);
-assert.throws(getHiddenValue({}), /index must be an uint32/);
-assert.throws(getHiddenValue({}, null), /index must be an uint32/);
-assert.throws(getHiddenValue({}, []), /index must be an uint32/);
+const errMessageObj = /obj must be an object/;
+const errMessageIndex = /index must be an uint32/;
+
+assert.throws(getHiddenValue(), errMessageObj);
+assert.throws(getHiddenValue(null, 'foo'), errMessageObj);
+assert.throws(getHiddenValue(undefined, 'foo'), errMessageObj);
+assert.throws(getHiddenValue('bar', 'foo'), errMessageObj);
+assert.throws(getHiddenValue(85, 'foo'), errMessageObj);
+assert.throws(getHiddenValue({}), errMessageIndex);
+assert.throws(getHiddenValue({}, null), errMessageIndex);
+assert.throws(getHiddenValue({}, []), errMessageIndex);
 assert.deepStrictEqual(
     binding.getHiddenValue({}, kArrowMessagePrivateSymbolIndex),
     undefined);
 
-assert.throws(setHiddenValue(), /obj must be an object/);
-assert.throws(setHiddenValue(null, 'foo'), /obj must be an object/);
-assert.throws(setHiddenValue(undefined, 'foo'), /obj must be an object/);
-assert.throws(setHiddenValue('bar', 'foo'), /obj must be an object/);
-assert.throws(setHiddenValue(85, 'foo'), /obj must be an object/);
-assert.throws(setHiddenValue({}), /index must be an uint32/);
-assert.throws(setHiddenValue({}, null), /index must be an uint32/);
-assert.throws(setHiddenValue({}, []), /index must be an uint32/);
+assert.throws(setHiddenValue(), errMessageObj);
+assert.throws(setHiddenValue(null, 'foo'), errMessageObj);
+assert.throws(setHiddenValue(undefined, 'foo'), errMessageObj);
+assert.throws(setHiddenValue('bar', 'foo'), errMessageObj);
+assert.throws(setHiddenValue(85, 'foo'), errMessageObj);
+assert.throws(setHiddenValue({}), errMessageIndex);
+assert.throws(setHiddenValue({}, null), errMessageIndex);
+assert.throws(setHiddenValue({}, []), errMessageIndex);
 const obj = {};
 assert.strictEqual(
     binding.setHiddenValue(obj, kArrowMessagePrivateSymbolIndex, 'bar'),
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-util-log.js b/test/parallel/test-util-log.js
index 24e84e1be9..d660106e17 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-util-log.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-util-log.js
@@ -46,10 +46,10 @@ const tests = [
 ];
 
 // test util.log()
+const re = /[0-9]{1,2} [A-Z][a-z]{2} [0-9]{2}:[0-9]{2}:[0-9]{2} - (.+)$/;
 tests.forEach(function(test) {
   util.log(test.input);
   const result = strings.shift().trim();
-  const re = (/[0-9]{1,2} [A-Z][a-z]{2} [0-9]{2}:[0-9]{2}:[0-9]{2} - (.+)$/);
   const match = re.exec(result);
   assert.ok(match);
   assert.strictEqual(match[1], test.output);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-zlib-truncated.js b/test/parallel/test-zlib-truncated.js
index c7b84c0d70..678bfedd41 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-zlib-truncated.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-zlib-truncated.js
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ const inputString = 'ΩΩLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing eli'
                     'm arcu mi, sodales non suscipit id, ultrices ut massa. S' +
                     'ed ac sem sit amet arcu malesuada fermentum. Nunc sed. ';
 
+const errMessage = /unexpected end of file/;
+
 [
   { comp: 'gzip', decomp: 'gunzip', decompSync: 'gunzipSync' },
   { comp: 'gzip', decomp: 'unzip', decompSync: 'unzipSync' },
@@ -41,11 +43,11 @@ const inputString = 'ΩΩLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing eli'
     // sync truncated input test
     assert.throws(function() {
       zlib[methods.decompSync](truncated);
-    }, /unexpected end of file/);
+    }, errMessage);
 
     // async truncated input test
     zlib[methods.decomp](truncated, function(err, result) {
-      assert(/unexpected end of file/.test(err.message));
+      assert(errMessage.test(err.message));
     });
 
     const syncFlushOpt = { finishFlush: zlib.constants.Z_SYNC_FLUSH };
diff --git a/test/pummel/test-net-pingpong.js b/test/pummel/test-net-pingpong.js
index d88b4f638a..4db843afd3 100644
--- a/test/pummel/test-net-pingpong.js
+++ b/test/pummel/test-net-pingpong.js
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ function pingPongTest(port, host, on_complete) {
       console.log(`server got: ${JSON.stringify(data)}`);
       assert.strictEqual('open', socket.readyState);
       assert.strictEqual(true, count <= N);
-      if (/PING/.exec(data)) {
+      if (/PING/.test(data)) {
         socket.write('PONG');
       }
     });
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-module-loading.js b/test/sequential/test-module-loading.js
index c55c03279e..8a7bfe15c4 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-module-loading.js
+++ b/test/sequential/test-module-loading.js
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ const assert = require('assert');
 const path = require('path');
 const fs = require('fs');
 
+const backslash = /\\/g;
+
 console.error('load test-module-loading.js');
 
 // assert that this is the main module.
@@ -195,7 +197,7 @@ try {
     require(`${loadOrder}file3`);
   } catch (e) {
     // Not a real .node module, but we know we require'd the right thing.
-    assert.ok(e.message.replace(/\\/g, '/').match(/file3\.node/));
+    assert.ok(/file3\.node/.test(e.message.replace(backslash, '/')));
   }
   assert.strictEqual(require(`${loadOrder}file4`).file4, 'file4.reg', msg);
   assert.strictEqual(require(`${loadOrder}file5`).file5, 'file5.reg2', msg);
@@ -203,7 +205,7 @@ try {
   try {
     require(`${loadOrder}file7`);
   } catch (e) {
-    assert.ok(e.message.replace(/\\/g, '/').match(/file7\/index\.node/));
+    assert.ok(/file7\/index\.node/.test(e.message.replace(backslash, '/')));
   }
   assert.strictEqual(require(`${loadOrder}file8`).file8, 'file8/index.reg',
                      msg);
@@ -237,7 +239,7 @@ try {
 
   const children = module.children.reduce(function red(set, child) {
     let id = path.relative(path.dirname(__dirname), child.id);
-    id = id.replace(/\\/g, '/');
+    id = id.replace(backslash, '/');
     set[id] = child.children.reduce(red, {});
     return set;
   }, {});
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-process-warnings.js b/test/sequential/test-process-warnings.js
index 0ab8652f56..944029d8b3 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-process-warnings.js
+++ b/test/sequential/test-process-warnings.js
@@ -10,24 +10,26 @@ const normal = [warnmod];
 const noWarn = ['--no-warnings', warnmod];
 const traceWarn = ['--trace-warnings', warnmod];
 
+const warningMessage = /^\(.+\)\sWarning: a bad practice warning/;
+
 execFile(node, normal, function(er, stdout, stderr) {
   // Show Process Warnings
   assert.strictEqual(er, null);
   assert.strictEqual(stdout, '');
-  assert(/^\(.+\)\sWarning: a bad practice warning/.test(stderr));
+  assert(warningMessage.test(stderr));
 });
 
 execFile(node, noWarn, function(er, stdout, stderr) {
   // Hide Process Warnings
   assert.strictEqual(er, null);
   assert.strictEqual(stdout, '');
-  assert(!/^\(.+\)\sWarning: a bad practice warning/.test(stderr));
+  assert(!warningMessage.test(stderr));
 });
 
 execFile(node, traceWarn, function(er, stdout, stderr) {
   // Show Warning Trace
   assert.strictEqual(er, null);
   assert.strictEqual(stdout, '');
-  assert(/^\(.+\)\sWarning: a bad practice warning/.test(stderr));
+  assert(warningMessage.test(stderr));
   assert(/at Object\.<anonymous>\s\(.+warnings\.js:3:9\)/.test(stderr));
 });
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-regress-GH-784.js b/test/sequential/test-regress-GH-784.js
index 7abc622dbe..127d921626 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-regress-GH-784.js
+++ b/test/sequential/test-regress-GH-784.js
@@ -70,28 +70,30 @@ const responses = [];
 function afterPing(result) {
   responses.push(result);
   console.error(`afterPing. responses.length = ${responses.length}`);
+  const ECONNREFUSED_RE = /ECONNREFUSED/;
+  const successRE = /success/;
   switch (responses.length) {
     case 2:
-      assert.ok(/ECONNREFUSED/.test(responses[0]));
-      assert.ok(/ECONNREFUSED/.test(responses[1]));
+      assert.ok(ECONNREFUSED_RE.test(responses[0]));
+      assert.ok(ECONNREFUSED_RE.test(responses[1]));
       serverOn();
       break;
 
     case 4:
-      assert.ok(/success/.test(responses[2]));
-      assert.ok(/success/.test(responses[3]));
+      assert.ok(successRE.test(responses[2]));
+      assert.ok(successRE.test(responses[3]));
       serverOff();
       break;
 
     case 6:
-      assert.ok(/ECONNREFUSED/.test(responses[4]));
-      assert.ok(/ECONNREFUSED/.test(responses[5]));
+      assert.ok(ECONNREFUSED_RE.test(responses[4]));
+      assert.ok(ECONNREFUSED_RE.test(responses[5]));
       serverOn();
       break;
 
     case 8:
-      assert.ok(/success/.test(responses[6]));
-      assert.ok(/success/.test(responses[7]));
+      assert.ok(successRE.test(responses[6]));
+      assert.ok(successRE.test(responses[7]));
       server.close();
       // we should go to process.on('exit') from here.
       break;