diff --git a/src/authutil.ts b/src/authutil.ts
index 556cbfef..07ca0851 100644
--- a/src/authutil.ts
+++ b/src/authutil.ts
@@ -25,8 +25,11 @@ function writeRegistryToFile(
   if (!scope && registryUrl.indexOf('npm.pkg.github.com') > -1) {
     scope = github.context.repo.owner;
   }
-  if (!scope && namePrefix = require('./package').name.match('@[^/]+')) {
-    scope = namePrefix[0];
+  if (!scope) {
+    let namePrefix = require('./package').name.match('@[^/]+');
+    if (namePrefix) {
+      scope = namePrefix[0];
+    }
   }
   if (scope && scope[0] != '@') {
     scope = '@' + scope;