diff --git a/lib/core/src/server/manager/manager-config.js b/lib/core/src/server/manager/manager-config.js
index ab8ff4038689..309af8af7a98 100644
--- a/lib/core/src/server/manager/manager-config.js
+++ b/lib/core/src/server/manager/manager-config.js
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import fs from 'fs-extra';
 import findUp from 'find-up';
 import resolveFrom from 'resolve-from';
 
+import { logger } from '@storybook/node-logger';
+
 import loadPresets from '../presets';
 import loadCustomPresets from '../common/custom-presets';
 import { typeScriptDefaults } from '../config/defaults';
@@ -15,12 +17,17 @@ const getAutoRefs = async (options) => {
 
   const list = await Promise.all(
     Object.keys({ ...dependencies, ...devDependencies }).map(async (d) => {
-      const l = resolveFrom(directory, path.join(d, 'package.json'));
+      try {
+        const l = resolveFrom(directory, path.join(d, 'package.json'));
 
-      const { storybook, name } = await fs.readJSON(l);
+        const { storybook, name } = await fs.readJSON(l);
 
-      if (storybook?.url) {
-        return { id: name, ...storybook };
+        if (storybook?.url) {
+          return { id: name, ...storybook };
+        }
+      } catch {
+        logger.warn(`unable to find package.json for ${d}`);
+        return undefined;
       }
       return undefined;
     })