diff --git a/modules/actions/jobparser/jobparser.go b/modules/actions/jobparser/jobparser.go
index 1d4c4c1756..e3a99b95ac 100644
--- a/modules/actions/jobparser/jobparser.go
+++ b/modules/actions/jobparser/jobparser.go
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ func Parse(content []byte, options ...ParseOption) ([]*SingleWorkflow, error) {
 	}
 	results := map[string]*JobResult{}
 	for id, job := range origin.Jobs {
+		if job == nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("needed job not found: %q", id)
+		}
 		results[id] = &JobResult{
 			Needs:   job.Needs(),
 			Result:  pc.jobResults[id],
diff --git a/modules/actions/jobparser/jobparser_test.go b/modules/actions/jobparser/jobparser_test.go
index 51ba70fc2a..e74f0644f8 100644
--- a/modules/actions/jobparser/jobparser_test.go
+++ b/modules/actions/jobparser/jobparser_test.go
@@ -59,6 +59,13 @@ func TestParse(t *testing.T) {
 			wantErr: false,
 		},
 	}
+	invalidFileTests := []struct {
+		name string
+	}{
+		{name: "null_job_implicit"},
+		{name: "null_job_explicit"},
+	}
+
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			content := ReadTestdata(t, tt.name+".in.yaml")
@@ -84,4 +91,14 @@ func TestParse(t *testing.T) {
 			assert.Equal(t, string(want), builder.String())
 		})
 	}
+
+	for _, tt := range invalidFileTests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			content := ReadTestdata(t, tt.name+".in.yaml")
+			require.NotPanics(t, func() {
+				_, err := Parse(content)
+				require.Error(t, err)
+			})
+		})
+	}
 }
diff --git a/modules/actions/jobparser/testdata/null_job_explicit.in.yaml b/modules/actions/jobparser/testdata/null_job_explicit.in.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6731507a32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/actions/jobparser/testdata/null_job_explicit.in.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# null_job_explicit.in.yaml
+on: push
+jobs:
+  empty: null
+  notempty:
+    needs: empty
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo ok
diff --git a/modules/actions/jobparser/testdata/null_job_implicit.in.yaml b/modules/actions/jobparser/testdata/null_job_implicit.in.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..26591aadcd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/actions/jobparser/testdata/null_job_implicit.in.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# null_job_implicit.in.yaml
+on: push
+jobs:
+  empty:
+  notempty:
+    needs: empty
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo ok