diff --git a/pkl-gradle/src/main/java/org/pkl/gradle/task/EvalTask.java b/pkl-gradle/src/main/java/org/pkl/gradle/task/EvalTask.java
index bfcc9d535..7f486f711 100644
--- a/pkl-gradle/src/main/java/org/pkl/gradle/task/EvalTask.java
+++ b/pkl-gradle/src/main/java/org/pkl/gradle/task/EvalTask.java
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import java.io.File;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.concurrent.Callable;
 import javax.annotation.Nullable;
 import org.gradle.api.file.DirectoryProperty;
 import org.gradle.api.file.FileCollection;
@@ -74,7 +75,12 @@ private CliEvaluator createCliEvaluator() {
   public FileCollection getEffectiveOutputFiles() {
     return getObjects()
         .fileCollection()
-        .from(getProviders().provider(() -> nullToEmpty(createCliEvaluator().getOutputFiles())));
+        .from(
+            getProviders()
+                .provider(
+                    () ->
+                        exceptionToEmpty(
+                            () -> nullToEmpty(createCliEvaluator().getOutputFiles()))));
   }
 
   @OutputDirectories
@@ -84,13 +90,24 @@ public FileCollection getEffectiveOutputDirs() {
         .fileCollection()
         .from(
             getProviders()
-                .provider(() -> nullToEmpty(createCliEvaluator().getOutputDirectories())));
+                .provider(
+                    () ->
+                        exceptionToEmpty(
+                            () -> nullToEmpty(createCliEvaluator().getOutputDirectories()))));
   }
 
   private static <T> Set<T> nullToEmpty(@Nullable Set<T> set) {
     return set == null ? Collections.emptySet() : set;
   }
 
+  private static <T> Set<T> exceptionToEmpty(Callable<? extends Set<T>> provider) {
+    try {
+      return provider.call();
+    } catch (Exception e) {
+      return Collections.emptySet();
+    }
+  }
+
   @Override
   protected void doRunTask() {
     //noinspection ResultOfMethodCallIgnored