diff --git a/lib/fixer.js b/lib/fixer.js
index 49b97f5e322e7acbd040806e04627cd1f1321915..c747f7cdea7afe2ac753514e3b37724a19e48cb4 100644
--- a/lib/fixer.js
+++ b/lib/fixer.js
@@ -10,6 +10,16 @@ var typos = require('./typos.json')
 
 var isEmail = str => str.includes('@') && (str.indexOf('@') < str.lastIndexOf('.'))
 
+// polyfill until support for node <18.17.0 is dropped
+URL.canParse ??= (input, base) => {
+  try {
+    new URL(input, base);
+    return true;
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
 module.exports = {
   // default warning function
   warn: function () {},