diff --git a/internal/cmd/files/migration_check.go b/internal/cmd/files/migration_check.go
index ed0170c3..816cb022 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/files/migration_check.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/files/migration_check.go
@@ -22,12 +22,12 @@ func MigrationCheckScript(_ context.Context, input cmdtools.CommandInput) error
 	payloadApps := appDef.GetAppsByType(appdef.AppTypePayload)
 
 	for _, app := range payloadApps {
-		scriptPath := filepath.Join(app.Path, "scripts", "check-deps.js")
+		scriptPath := filepath.Join(app.Path, "scripts", "check-deps.cjs")
 
 		// Scaffold the check script from template.
 		err := input.Generator().CopyFromEmbed(
 			templates.Embed,
-			"scripts/check-deps.js",
+			"scripts/check-deps.cjs",
 			scriptPath,
 			scaffold.WithTracking(manifest.SourceApp(app.Name)),
 			scaffold.WithScaffoldMode(),
diff --git a/internal/cmd/files/migration_check_test.go b/internal/cmd/files/migration_check_test.go
index 4e263e96..c5e17732 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/files/migration_check_test.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/files/migration_check_test.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func TestMigrationCheckScript(t *testing.T) {
 
 		// Verify no scripts were created.
 		for _, app := range appDef.Apps {
-			scriptPath := filepath.Join(app.Path, "scripts", "check-deps.js")
+			scriptPath := filepath.Join(app.Path, "scripts", "check-deps.cjs")
 			exists, err := afero.Exists(input.FS, scriptPath)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			assert.False(t, exists, "expected %s not to exist", scriptPath)
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func TestMigrationCheckScript(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		// Verify script was created for Payload app.
-		cmsScriptPath := filepath.Join("./apps/cms/scripts", "check-deps.js")
+		cmsScriptPath := filepath.Join("./apps/cms/scripts", "check-deps.cjs")
 		exists, err := afero.Exists(input.FS, cmsScriptPath)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.True(t, exists, "expected %s to exist", cmsScriptPath)
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func TestMigrationCheckScript(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Contains(t, string(content), "Dependencies out of sync")
 
 		// Verify script was not created for SvelteKit app.
-		webScriptPath := filepath.Join("./apps/web/scripts", "check-deps.js")
+		webScriptPath := filepath.Join("./apps/web/scripts", "check-deps.cjs")
 		exists, err = afero.Exists(input.FS, webScriptPath)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.False(t, exists, "expected %s not to exist", webScriptPath)
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func TestMigrationCheckScript(t *testing.T) {
 
 		// Verify script was created for both Payload apps.
 		for _, app := range appDef.Apps {
-			scriptPath := filepath.Join(app.Path, "scripts", "check-deps.js")
+			scriptPath := filepath.Join(app.Path, "scripts", "check-deps.cjs")
 			exists, err := afero.Exists(input.FS, scriptPath)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			assert.True(t, exists, "expected %s to exist", scriptPath)
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ func TestMigrationCheckScript(t *testing.T) {
 		err := MigrationCheckScript(t.Context(), input)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		scriptPath := filepath.Join("./apps/cms/scripts", "check-deps.js")
+		scriptPath := filepath.Join("./apps/cms/scripts", "check-deps.cjs")
 		content1, err := afero.ReadFile(input.FS, scriptPath)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
diff --git a/internal/cmd/files/package_json.go b/internal/cmd/files/package_json.go
index b062020f..d1bd68e5 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/files/package_json.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/files/package_json.go
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ func PackageJSONApp(_ context.Context, input cmdtools.CommandInput) error {
 // These scripts are injected into app package.json files based on the app type.
 var appTypeScripts = map[appdef.AppType]map[string]string{
 	appdef.AppTypePayload: {
-		"migrate:check":  "node scripts/check-deps.js",
+		"migrate:check":  "node scripts/check-deps.cjs",
 		"migrate:create": "pnpm migrate:check && NODE_ENV=production payload migrate:create",
 		"migrate:status": "NODE_ENV=production payload migrate:status",
 	},
diff --git a/internal/cmd/files/package_json_test.go b/internal/cmd/files/package_json_test.go
index 1a5ba5e6..243ba70c 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/files/package_json_test.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/files/package_json_test.go
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ func TestPackageJSONApp(t *testing.T) {
 			scripts, ok := pkg["scripts"].(map[string]any)
 			require.True(t, ok)
 
-			assert.Equal(t, "node scripts/check-deps.js", scripts["migrate:check"])
+			assert.Equal(t, "node scripts/check-deps.cjs", scripts["migrate:check"])
 			assert.Equal(t, "pnpm migrate:check && NODE_ENV=production payload migrate:create", scripts["migrate:create"])
 			assert.Equal(t, "NODE_ENV=production payload migrate:status", scripts["migrate:status"])
 		}
@@ -594,7 +594,7 @@ func TestGetAppTypeScripts(t *testing.T) {
 		"Payload includes migration scripts": {
 			input: appdef.AppTypePayload,
 			want: map[string]string{
-				"migrate:check":  "node scripts/check-deps.js",
+				"migrate:check":  "node scripts/check-deps.cjs",
 				"migrate:create": "pnpm migrate:check && NODE_ENV=production payload migrate:create",
 				"migrate:status": "NODE_ENV=production payload migrate:status",
 			},
diff --git a/internal/templates/scripts/check-deps.js b/internal/templates/scripts/check-deps.cjs
similarity index 100%
rename from internal/templates/scripts/check-deps.js
rename to internal/templates/scripts/check-deps.cjs