diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk-crypto-nodejs/src/machine.rs b/crates/matrix-sdk-crypto-nodejs/src/machine.rs
index 964b7cd1b..be6e7cd74 100644
--- a/crates/matrix-sdk-crypto-nodejs/src/machine.rs
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk-crypto-nodejs/src/machine.rs
@@ -62,8 +62,10 @@ impl OlmMachine {
     /// asynchronous. Please use the `finalize` method.
     #[napi(constructor)]
     #[allow(clippy::new_ret_no_self)]
-    pub fn new() -> napi::Error {
-        napi::Error::from_reason("To build an `OldMachine`, please use the `initialize` method")
+    pub fn new() -> Result<(), napi::Error> {
+        Err(napi::Error::from_reason(
+            "To build an `OldMachine`, please use the `initialize` method",
+        ))
     }
 
     /// The unique user ID that owns this `OlmMachine` instance.
diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk-crypto-nodejs/tests/machine.test.js b/crates/matrix-sdk-crypto-nodejs/tests/machine.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b996f2b6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk-crypto-nodejs/tests/machine.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+const { OlmMachine } = require('../');
+
+describe(OlmMachine.name, () => {
+    test('cannot be instantiated', () => {
+        expect(() => { new OlmMachine() }).toThrow();
+    });
+});