diff --git a/src/handler/SpecifyBootVersionStep.ts b/src/handler/SpecifyBootVersionStep.ts
index 15297fe..3faf58a 100644
--- a/src/handler/SpecifyBootVersionStep.ts
+++ b/src/handler/SpecifyBootVersionStep.ts
@@ -32,8 +32,12 @@ export class SpecifyBootVersionStep implements IStep {
         const items = await serviceManager.getItems(projectMetadata.serviceUrl, MetadataType.BOOTVERSION);
 
         if (projectMetadata.enableSmartDefaults === true) {
-            projectMetadata.bootVersion = items.find(x => x.default === true)?.value?.id;
-            return true;
+            const recommendedBootVersion: string = items.find(x => x.default === true)?.value?.id;
+
+            if (recommendedBootVersion) {
+                projectMetadata.bootVersion = recommendedBootVersion;
+                return true;
+            }
         }
 
         const pickMetaData: IPickMetadata<BootVersion> = {
diff --git a/src/handler/SpecifyJavaVersionStep.ts b/src/handler/SpecifyJavaVersionStep.ts
index c3a4722..639bf61 100644
--- a/src/handler/SpecifyJavaVersionStep.ts
+++ b/src/handler/SpecifyJavaVersionStep.ts
@@ -39,8 +39,12 @@ export class SpecifyJavaVersionStep implements IStep {
         const items = await serviceManager.getItems(projectMetadata.serviceUrl, MetadataType.JAVAVERSION);
 
         if (projectMetadata.enableSmartDefaults === true) {
-            projectMetadata.javaVersion = items.find(x => x.default === true)?.value?.id;
-            return true;
+            const recommendedJavaVersion: string = items.find(x => x.default === true)?.value?.id;
+
+            if (recommendedJavaVersion) {
+                projectMetadata.javaVersion = recommendedJavaVersion;
+                return true;
+            }
         }
         
         const pickMetaData: IPickMetadata<JavaVersion> = {
diff --git a/src/handler/SpecifyLanguageStep.ts b/src/handler/SpecifyLanguageStep.ts
index 49e7d3c..e9e0415 100644
--- a/src/handler/SpecifyLanguageStep.ts
+++ b/src/handler/SpecifyLanguageStep.ts
@@ -39,8 +39,12 @@ export class SpecifyLanguageStep implements IStep {
         const items = await serviceManager.getItems(projectMetadata.serviceUrl, MetadataType.LANGUAGE);
 
         if (projectMetadata.enableSmartDefaults === true) {
-            projectMetadata.language = items.find(x => x.default === true)?.label.toLowerCase();
-            return true;
+            const recommendedLanguage: string = items.find(x => x.default === true)?.label.toLowerCase();
+
+            if (recommendedLanguage) {
+                projectMetadata.language = recommendedLanguage;
+                return true;
+            }
         }
 
         const pickMetaData: IPickMetadata<Language> = {
diff --git a/src/handler/SpecifyPackagingStep.ts b/src/handler/SpecifyPackagingStep.ts
index 7283c24..cadc243 100644
--- a/src/handler/SpecifyPackagingStep.ts
+++ b/src/handler/SpecifyPackagingStep.ts
@@ -39,8 +39,12 @@ export class SpecifyPackagingStep implements IStep {
         const items = await serviceManager.getItems(projectMetadata.serviceUrl, MetadataType.PACKAGING);
 
         if (projectMetadata.enableSmartDefaults === true) {
-            projectMetadata.packaging = items.find(x => x.default === true)?.label?.toLowerCase();
-            return true;
+            const recommendedPackaging: string = items.find(x => x.default === true)?.label?.toLowerCase();
+            
+            if (recommendedPackaging) {
+                projectMetadata.packaging = recommendedPackaging;
+                return true;
+            }
         }
         
         const pickMetaData: IPickMetadata<Packaging> = {