diff --git a/hana/lib/drivers/index.js b/hana/lib/drivers/index.js
index f48386d55..eb1900948 100644
--- a/hana/lib/drivers/index.js
+++ b/hana/lib/drivers/index.js
@@ -5,18 +5,17 @@ Object.defineProperties(module.exports, {
   'hana-client': { get: () => require('./hana-client') },
   default: {
     get() {
-      const projectPackage = require(cds.root + '/package.json')
-      const dependencies = {
-        ...projectPackage.dependencies,
-        ...(process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production' && projectPackage.devDependencies),
-      }
-
-      // Have a bias to hdb as the default driver
-      if (dependencies.hdb) {
-        return module.exports.hdb
-      }
-      if (dependencies['@sap/hana-client']) {
-        return module.exports['hana-client']
+      try {
+        const projectPackage = require(cds.root + '/package.json')
+        const dependencies = {
+          ...projectPackage.dependencies,
+          ...(process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production' && projectPackage.devDependencies),
+        }
+        // Have a bias to hdb as the default driver
+        if (dependencies.hdb) return module.exports.hdb
+        if (dependencies['@sap/hana-client']) return module.exports['hana-client']
+      } catch (e) {
+        console.trace(`WARNING! Unable to require the project's package.json at "${cds.root + '/package.json'}". Please check your project setup.`)
       }
 
       // When no driver is installed still try to load any of the drivers