diff --git a/lib/plugins/aws/dev/local-lambda/index.js b/lib/plugins/aws/dev/local-lambda/index.js
index 1141578e7..069eb1af8 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/aws/dev/local-lambda/index.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/aws/dev/local-lambda/index.js
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ const runtimeWrappers = [
   {
     command: 'node',
     arguments: [],
-    path: path.join(__dirname, 'runtime-wrappers/node.cjs'),
+    path: path.join(__dirname, 'runtime-wrappers/node.js'),
     versions: ['nodejs14.x', 'nodejs16.x', 'nodejs18.x', 'nodejs20.x'],
     extensions: ['.js', '.mjs', '.cjs', '.ts', '.mts', '.cts'],
   },
diff --git a/lib/plugins/aws/dev/local-lambda/runtime-wrappers/node.cjs b/lib/plugins/aws/dev/local-lambda/runtime-wrappers/node.js
similarity index 85%
rename from lib/plugins/aws/dev/local-lambda/runtime-wrappers/node.cjs
rename to lib/plugins/aws/dev/local-lambda/runtime-wrappers/node.js
index 2a06f898d..9bb55dab8 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/aws/dev/local-lambda/runtime-wrappers/node.cjs
+++ b/lib/plugins/aws/dev/local-lambda/runtime-wrappers/node.js
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
-const path = require('path')
-const os = require('os')
-const fs = require('fs')
-const { inspect } = require('util')
+import { pathToFileURL } from 'url'
+import path from 'path'
+import os from 'os'
+import fs from 'fs'
+import { inspect } from 'util'
+import ServerlessError from '@serverlessinc/sf-core/src/utils/errors/serverlessError.js'
 
 const originaStdoutlWrite = process.stdout.write
 const originaStderrlWrite = process.stderr.write
@@ -94,32 +96,38 @@ const saveInvocationResult = (result) => {
 
 /**
  * Imports the user handler function from the specified file path.
- * We first try to require the file, and if it fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM, we import it.
  * This supports both CommonJS and ESM handler files.
- * If the file is already cached, it is deleted to ensure the latest version is imported
- * as the user makes changes during the dev mode session
  *
  * @param {string} handlerFileAbsolutePath - Path to handler file
  * @param {string} handlerName - The Handler Name defined in the config file
  * @returns {Promise<Function>}
  */
 const importFunction = async (handlerFileAbsolutePath, handlerName) => {
-  let handlerFunction
-  try {
-    handlerFunction = require(handlerFileAbsolutePath)[handlerName]
-  } catch (error) {
-    if (error.code === 'ERR_REQUIRE_ESM') {
-      handlerFunction = await import(handlerFileAbsolutePath)[handlerName]
-    }
-
-    throw error
+  // Check if the file exists
+  if (!fs.existsSync(handlerFileAbsolutePath)) {
+    throw new ServerlessError(
+      `Handler file was not found: ${handlerFileAbsolutePath}`,
+      'DEV_MODE_HANDLER_FILE_NOT_FOUND',
+    )
   }
 
+  // Convert the file path to a file URL to ensure
+  // it works across different operating systems
+  // and for both CommonJS and ESM handler files
+  const fileUrl = pathToFileURL(handlerFileAbsolutePath).href
+
+  // Import the handler file. This works for both CommonJS and ESM handler files
+  const handlerFunction = (await import(fileUrl))[handlerName]
+
   // Make sure the handler is a function
   if (typeof handlerFunction !== 'function') {
-    throw new Error(`Handler is not a function`)
+    throw new ServerlessError(
+      `Handler is not a function`,
+      'DEV_MODE_INVALID_HANDLER',
+    )
   }
 
+  // return the function to be invoked
   return handlerFunction
 }
 /**