diff --git a/packages/cypress/src/generators/configuration/configuration.ts b/packages/cypress/src/generators/configuration/configuration.ts
index 4e864a9d183bb..2410353e0e6e7 100644
--- a/packages/cypress/src/generators/configuration/configuration.ts
+++ b/packages/cypress/src/generators/configuration/configuration.ts
@@ -122,7 +122,8 @@ function ensureDependencies(tree: Tree, options: NormalizedSchema) {
 }
 
 function normalizeOptions(tree: Tree, options: CypressE2EConfigSchema) {
-  const projectConfig = readProjectConfiguration(tree, options.project);
+  const projectConfig: ProjectConfiguration | undefined =
+    readProjectConfiguration(tree, options.project);
   if (projectConfig?.targets?.e2e) {
     throw new Error(`Project ${options.project} already has an e2e target.
 Rename or remove the existing e2e target.`);
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ Rename or remove the existing e2e target.`);
   if (
     !options.baseUrl &&
     !options.devServerTarget &&
-    !projectConfig.targets.serve
+    !projectConfig?.targets?.serve
   ) {
     throw new Error(`The project ${options.project} does not have a 'serve' target.
 In this case you need to provide a devServerTarget,'<projectName>:<targetName>[:<configName>]', or a baseUrl option`);
@@ -141,7 +142,7 @@ In this case you need to provide a devServerTarget,'<projectName>:<targetName>[:
 
   const devServerTarget =
     options.devServerTarget ??
-    (projectConfig.targets.serve ? `${options.project}:serve` : undefined);
+    (projectConfig?.targets?.serve ? `${options.project}:serve` : undefined);
 
   if (!options.baseUrl && !devServerTarget) {
     throw new Error('Either baseUrl or devServerTarget must be provided');