diff --git a/lib/plugins/package/package.js b/lib/plugins/package/package.js
index ca14258cc5d..97d5b0517d4 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/package/package.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/package/package.js
@@ -41,9 +41,10 @@ class Package {
           Object.values(this.serverless.service.functions).some((func) =>
             usesIncludeOrExclude(func.package)
           ) ||
-          Object.values(this.serverless.service.layers || {}).some((func) =>
-            usesIncludeOrExclude(func.package)
-          )
+          Object.values(this.serverless.service.layers || {}).some((func) => {
+            if (func != null) return usesIncludeOrExclude(func.package);
+            return false;
+          })
         ) {
           this.serverless._logDeprecation(
             'PACKAGE_PATTERNS',