diff --git a/src/wp-admin/js/updates.js b/src/wp-admin/js/updates.js
index ac360dae8a..7bb1167f6c 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/js/updates.js
+++ b/src/wp-admin/js/updates.js
@@ -2423,7 +2423,7 @@
 				return;
 			}
 
-			if ( 'undefined' === typeof message.action ) {
+			if ( ! message || 'undefined' === typeof message.action ) {
 				return;
 			}