diff --git a/test/lib/next-test-utils.ts b/test/lib/next-test-utils.ts
index 0c934f0e2a5fe0..5b42399d8a9222 100644
--- a/test/lib/next-test-utils.ts
+++ b/test/lib/next-test-utils.ts
@@ -468,9 +468,7 @@ export function shouldDisableLinting(dir: string) {
     ) {
       return false
     }
-  } catch {}
 
-  try {
     // If some of these files exist, we should not disable linting.
     if (
       ['.eslintrc.json', '.eslintrc.js', '.eslintrc'].some((file) =>
@@ -479,9 +477,7 @@ export function shouldDisableLinting(dir: string) {
     ) {
       return false
     }
-  } catch {}
 
-  try {
     // If the `eslintConfig` field is present in the `package.json` file, we
     // should not disable linting.
     if (
@@ -490,9 +486,13 @@ export function shouldDisableLinting(dir: string) {
     ) {
       return false
     }
-  } catch {}
 
-  return true
+    return true
+  } catch {
+    // An error ocurred while checking the directory, so we should not disable
+    // linting.
+    return false
+  }
 }
 
 export function nextBuild(