diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 978b1ed8..4b2a50c5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ The following `esbuild` options are automatically set.
 | `incremental` | N/A        | Cannot be overridden. Use `disableIncremental` to disable it           |
 | `outDir`      | N/A        | Cannot be overridden                                                   |
 | `platform`    | `'node'`   | Set `format` to `esm` to enable ESM support                            |
-| `target`      | `'node12'` | We dynamically set this. See [Supported Runtimes](#supported-runtimes) |
+| `target`      | `'node16'` | We dynamically set this. See [Supported Runtimes](#supported-runtimes) |
 | `watch`       | N/A        | Cannot be overridden                                                   |
 
 #### Packager Options
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 1b84bc12..fd450047 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ class EsbuildServerlessPlugin implements ServerlessPlugin {
       concurrency: Infinity,
       zipConcurrency: Infinity,
       bundle: true,
-      target: 'node12',
+      target: 'node16',
       external: [],
       exclude: ['aws-sdk'],
       nativeZip: false,