[BUG] npm install throws "ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE" if empty yarn.lock folder is present in root directory. #8782

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

This issue exists in the latest npm version

• I am using the latest npm

Current Behavior

npm install

npm error code ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE
npm error The "path" argument must be of type string or an instance of Buffer or URL. Received null
npm error A complete log of this run can be found in: /Users/nparoski/.npm/_logs/2025-11-26T10_05_44_942Z-debug-0.log

Expected Behavior

Expected to install packages without issues.

Steps To Reproduce

1. npm init
2. npm install <package name>
3. mkdir yarn.lock
4. npm install

Environment

• npm: 10.9.0
• Node.js: 22.10.0
• OS Name: MacOS / Ubuntu
• System Model Name: macOS Sequoia / Ubuntu 22
• npm config:

; node bin location = /Users/nparoski/.nvm/versions/node/v22.10.0/bin/node
; node version = v22.10.0
; npm local prefix = /Users/nparoski/projects/npm-test
; npm version = 10.9.0
; cwd = /Users/nparoski/projects/npm-test
; HOME = /Users/nparoski
; Run `npm config ls -l` to show all defaults.```