diff --git a/core/dbt/task/base.py b/core/dbt/task/base.py
index fcc03adb170..2d15c36a85a 100644
--- a/core/dbt/task/base.py
+++ b/core/dbt/task/base.py
@@ -207,6 +207,9 @@ def __init__(self, config, adapter, node, node_index, num_nodes) -> None:
     def compile(self, manifest: Manifest) -> Any:
         pass
 
+    def _node_build_path(self) -> Optional[str]:
+        return self.node.build_path if hasattr(self.node, "build_path") else None
+
     def get_result_status(self, result) -> Dict[str, str]:
         if result.status == NodeStatus.Error:
             return {"node_status": "error", "node_error": str(result.message)}
@@ -339,7 +342,7 @@ def _handle_catchable_exception(self, e, ctx):
     def _handle_internal_exception(self, e, ctx):
         fire_event(
             InternalErrorOnRun(
-                build_path=self.node.build_path, exc=str(e), node_info=get_node_info()
+                build_path=self._node_build_path(), exc=str(e), node_info=get_node_info()
             )
         )
         return str(e)
@@ -347,7 +350,7 @@ def _handle_internal_exception(self, e, ctx):
     def _handle_generic_exception(self, e, ctx):
         fire_event(
             GenericExceptionOnRun(
-                build_path=self.node.build_path,
+                build_path=self._node_build_path(),
                 unique_id=self.node.unique_id,
                 exc=str(e),
                 node_info=get_node_info(),
diff --git a/tests/unit/conftest.py b/tests/unit/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6f45963cb78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/conftest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import pytest
+
+from dbt.artifacts.resources import Quoting, SourceConfig
+from dbt.artifacts.resources.types import NodeType
+from dbt.contracts.graph.nodes import SourceDefinition
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def basic_parsed_source_definition_object():
+    return SourceDefinition(
+        columns={},
+        database="some_db",
+        description="",
+        fqn=["test", "source", "my_source", "my_source_table"],
+        identifier="my_source_table",
+        loader="stitch",
+        name="my_source_table",
+        original_file_path="/root/models/sources.yml",
+        package_name="test",
+        path="/root/models/sources.yml",
+        quoting=Quoting(),
+        resource_type=NodeType.Source,
+        schema="some_schema",
+        source_description="my source description",
+        source_name="my_source",
+        unique_id="test.source.my_source.my_source_table",
+        tags=[],
+        config=SourceConfig(),
+    )
diff --git a/tests/unit/task/test_base.py b/tests/unit/task/test_base.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5ad48f48385
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/task/test_base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+from dbt.task.base import BaseRunner
+from dbt.contracts.graph.nodes import SourceDefinition
+
+
+class MockRunner(BaseRunner):
+    def compile(self):
+        pass
+
+
+class TestBaseRunner:
+    def test_handle_generic_exception_handles_nodes_without_build_path(
+        self, basic_parsed_source_definition_object: SourceDefinition
+    ):
+        # Source definition nodes don't have `build_path` attributes. Thus, this
+        # test will fail if _handle_generic_exception doesn't account for this
+        runner = MockRunner(
+            config=None,
+            adapter=None,
+            node=basic_parsed_source_definition_object,
+            node_index=None,
+            num_nodes=None,
+        )
+        assert not hasattr(basic_parsed_source_definition_object, "build_path")
+        runner._handle_generic_exception(Exception("bad thing happened"), ctx=None)
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_contracts_graph_parsed.py b/tests/unit/test_contracts_graph_parsed.py
index 0e9a1c523f7..e655f0775ff 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_contracts_graph_parsed.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_contracts_graph_parsed.py
@@ -1954,30 +1954,6 @@ def basic_parsed_source_definition_dict():
     }
 
 
-@pytest.fixture
-def basic_parsed_source_definition_object():
-    return SourceDefinition(
-        columns={},
-        database="some_db",
-        description="",
-        fqn=["test", "source", "my_source", "my_source_table"],
-        identifier="my_source_table",
-        loader="stitch",
-        name="my_source_table",
-        original_file_path="/root/models/sources.yml",
-        package_name="test",
-        path="/root/models/sources.yml",
-        quoting=Quoting(),
-        resource_type=NodeType.Source,
-        schema="some_schema",
-        source_description="my source description",
-        source_name="my_source",
-        unique_id="test.source.my_source.my_source_table",
-        tags=[],
-        config=SourceConfig(),
-    )
-
-
 @pytest.fixture
 def complex_parsed_source_definition_dict():
     return {