diff --git a/packages/kbn-test/src/mocha/junit_report_generation.js b/packages/kbn-test/src/mocha/junit_report_generation.js
index fcf31672d7996..c8eaa390ca41a 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-test/src/mocha/junit_report_generation.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-test/src/mocha/junit_report_generation.js
@@ -94,7 +94,10 @@ export function setupJUnitReportGeneration(runner, options = {}) {
       .map((node) => ({ skipped: true, node }));
 
     // cache codeowners for quicker lookup
-    const reversedCodeowners = getPathsWithOwnersReversed();
+    let reversedCodeowners = [];
+    try {
+      reversedCodeowners = getPathsWithOwnersReversed();
+    } catch {}
 
     const commandLine = prettifyCommandLine(process.argv);