diff --git a/scripts/harness-audit.js b/scripts/harness-audit.js
index a7caa397..16edf248 100644
--- a/scripts/harness-audit.js
+++ b/scripts/harness-audit.js
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ function getRepoChecks(rootDir) {
       scopes: ['repo'],
       path: 'package.json',
       description: 'Test script runs validator chain before tests',
-      pass: typeof packageJson.scripts?.test === 'string' && packageJson.scripts.test.includes('validate-commands.js') && packageJson.scripts.test.includes('tests/run-all.js'),
+      pass: typeof packageJson?.scripts?.test === 'string' && packageJson?.scripts?.test.includes('validate-commands.js') && packageJson?.scripts?.test.includes('tests/run-all.js'),
       fix: 'Update package.json test script to run validators plus tests/run-all.js.',
     },
     {