diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 687dbc5..5e06c6a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@adobe/aio-lib-runtime",
-  "version": "7.1.6",
+  "version": "7.1.7",
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
   "main": "src/index.js",
   "bugs": {
diff --git a/src/utils.js b/src/utils.js
index b810721..8f5df7e 100644
--- a/src/utils.js
+++ b/src/utils.js
@@ -1731,7 +1731,7 @@ async function findProjectHashOnServer (ow, projectName) {
   // check for package with the projectName in manifest File and if found -> return the projectHash on the server
   const resultSync = await ow.packages.list(options)
   for (const pkg of resultSync) {
-    if (pkg.annotations.length > 0) {
+    if (pkg.annotations?.length > 0) {
       const whiskManaged = pkg.annotations.find(elem => elem.key === 'whisk-managed')
       if (whiskManaged !== undefined && whiskManaged.value.projectName === projectName) {
         projectHash = whiskManaged.value.projectHash
@@ -1742,7 +1742,7 @@ async function findProjectHashOnServer (ow, projectName) {
   // if no package exists with the projectName -> look in actions
   const resultActionList = await ow.actions.list()
   for (const action of resultActionList) {
-    if (action.annotations.length > 0) {
+    if (action.annotations?.length > 0) {
       const whiskManaged = action.annotations.find(elem => elem.key === 'whisk-managed')
       if (whiskManaged !== undefined && whiskManaged.value.projectName === projectName) {
         projectHash = whiskManaged.value.projectHash
@@ -1754,7 +1754,7 @@ async function findProjectHashOnServer (ow, projectName) {
   // if no action exists with the projectName -> look in triggers
   const resultTriggerList = await ow.triggers.list()
   for (const trigger of resultTriggerList) {
-    if (trigger.annotations.length > 0) {
+    if (trigger.annotations?.length > 0) {
       const whiskManaged = trigger.annotations.find(elem => elem.key === 'whisk-managed')
       if (whiskManaged !== undefined && whiskManaged.value.projectName === projectName) {
         projectHash = whiskManaged.value.projectHash
@@ -1766,7 +1766,7 @@ async function findProjectHashOnServer (ow, projectName) {
   // if no trigger exists with the projectName -> look in rules
   const resultRules = await ow.rules.list()
   for (const rule of resultRules) {
-    if (rule.annotations.length > 0) {
+    if (rule.annotations?.length > 0) {
       const whiskManaged = rule.annotations.find(elem => elem.key === 'whisk-managed')
       if (whiskManaged !== undefined &&
           whiskManaged.value.projectName === projectName) {
diff --git a/test/utils.test.js b/test/utils.test.js
index 9aad044..fd92496 100644
--- a/test/utils.test.js
+++ b/test/utils.test.js
@@ -1936,6 +1936,20 @@ describe('getProjectHash', () => {
 })
 
 describe('findProjectHashOnServer', () => {
+  test('default projectHash (null annotations in packages, actions, triggers, rules)', async () => {
+    const testProjectName = 'ThisIsTheNameOfTheProject'
+    const pkgList = ow.mockResolved('packages.list', [{ annotations: null }])
+    const actList = ow.mockResolved('actions.list', [{ annotations: null }])
+    const trgList = ow.mockResolved('triggers.list', [{ annotations: null }])
+    const rlzList = ow.mockResolved('rules.list', [{ annotations: null }])
+    const result = await utils.findProjectHashOnServer(ow, testProjectName)
+    expect(pkgList).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(actList).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(trgList).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(rlzList).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(result).toBe('')
+  })
+
   test('default projectHash (no packages, actions, triggers, rules found)', async () => {
     const testProjectName = 'ThisIsTheNameOfTheProject'
     const pkgList = ow.mockResolved('packages.list', '')