diff --git a/lib/util.js b/lib/util.js
index 73f0076f6ae840..f24430d791f7c6 100644
--- a/lib/util.js
+++ b/lib/util.js
@@ -711,11 +711,11 @@ function formatValue(ctx, value, recurseTimes) {
     } catch (err) {
       if (errors.isStackOverflowError(err)) {
         ctx.seen.pop();
-        process.emitWarning(
-          'Inspection reached the maximum call stack size. Incomplete ' +
-          'inspected object returned.'
+        return ctx.stylize(
+          `[${constructor || tag || 'Object'}: Inspection interrupted ` +
+            'prematurely. Maximum call stack size exceeded.]',
+          'special'
         );
-        return ctx.stylize(`[${constructor || tag || 'Object'}]`, 'special');
       }
       throw err;
     }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-util-inspect.js b/test/parallel/test-util-inspect.js
index bd513ab05cb756..1f05f4987eeb41 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-util-inspect.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-util-inspect.js
@@ -1418,15 +1418,9 @@ util.inspect(process);
     util.inspect(list),
     '{ next: { next: { next: [Object] } } }'
   );
-  common.expectWarning({
-    Warning: [
-      'Inspection reached the maximum call stack size. ' +
-        'Incomplete inspected object returned.',
-      common.noWarnCode
-    ]
-  });
   const longList = util.inspect(list, { depth: Infinity });
   const match = longList.match(/next/g);
   assert(match.length > 1000 && match.length < 10000);
-  assert(longList.includes('[Object]'));
+  assert(longList.includes('[Object: Inspection interrupted ' +
+    'prematurely. Maximum call stack size exceeded.]'));
 }