diff --git a/lib/console.js b/lib/console.js
index 46b7f7627ed..868b2f286be 100644
--- a/lib/console.js
+++ b/lib/console.js
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ const {
 } = require('internal/errors');
 const { previewMapIterator, previewSetIterator } = require('internal/v8');
 const { Buffer: { isBuffer } } = require('buffer');
-const cliTable = require('internal/cli_table');
 const util = require('util');
 const {
   isTypedArray, isSet, isMap, isSetIterator, isMapIterator,
@@ -49,6 +48,9 @@ const {
   from: ArrayFrom,
 } = Array;
 
+// Lazy loaded for startup performance.
+let cliTable;
+
 // Track amount of indentation required via `console.group()`.
 const kGroupIndent = Symbol('kGroupIndent');
 
@@ -329,6 +331,7 @@ Console.prototype.table = function(tabularData, properties) {
       (typeof tabularData !== 'object' && typeof tabularData !== 'function'))
     return this.log(tabularData);
 
+  if (cliTable === undefined) cliTable = require('internal/cli_table');
   const final = (k, v) => this.log(cliTable(k, v));
 
   const inspect = (v) => {