diff --git a/packages/runs/src/state.mjs b/packages/runs/src/state.mjs
index af5cc927..ea5b6e96 100644
--- a/packages/runs/src/state.mjs
+++ b/packages/runs/src/state.mjs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ function readStateFile(dataRoot, name) {
   try {
     return { file, text: fs.readFileSync(file, "utf8") };
   } catch (error) {
+    return null;
     throw new RunsError(`cannot read ${file}: ${error.code ?? error.message}`);
   }
 }