diff --git a/cli/main.rs b/cli/main.rs
index 0abbc2a37d..44e9d31fd5 100644
--- a/cli/main.rs
+++ b/cli/main.rs
@@ -405,7 +405,10 @@ fn resolve_flags_and_init(
         // TODO(petamoriken): Need to check TypeScript `assert` keywords in deno_ast
         vec!["--no-harmony-import-assertions".to_string()]
       } else {
-        vec![]
+        // If we're still in v1.X version we want to support import assertions.
+        // V8 12.6 unshipped the support by default, so force it by passing a
+        // flag.
+        vec!["--harmony-import-assertions".to_string()]
       }
     }
   };