diff --git a/lib/internal/modules/package_json_reader.js b/lib/internal/modules/package_json_reader.js
index 92f46ed3971341..5b1ab6831604bd 100644
--- a/lib/internal/modules/package_json_reader.js
+++ b/lib/internal/modules/package_json_reader.js
@@ -296,6 +296,7 @@ function findPackageJSON(specifier, base = 'data:') {
     return packageJSONPath;
   }
 
+  /** @type {string} */
   let resolvedTarget;
   cascadedLoader ??= require('internal/modules/esm/loader').getOrInitializeCascadedLoader();
 
@@ -309,6 +310,8 @@ function findPackageJSON(specifier, base = 'data:') {
     }
   }
 
+  if (resolvedTarget == null) { return; }
+
   const pkg = getNearestParentPackageJSON(fileURLToPath(resolvedTarget));
 
   return pkg?.path;