diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/utils/shared_audits.rb b/Library/Homebrew/utils/shared_audits.rb
index 3957c3d76420a..2ef6d5a016347 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/utils/shared_audits.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/utils/shared_audits.rb
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ def self.github_release(user, repo, tag, formula: nil, cask: nil)
 
     return "#{tag} is a GitHub pre-release." if release["prerelease"] && [version, "all", "any"].exclude?(exception)
 
-    if !release["prerelease"] && [version, "any"].exclude?(exception)
+    if !release["prerelease"] && exception && [version, "any"].exclude?(exception)
       return "#{tag} is not a GitHub pre-release but '#{name}' is in the GitHub prerelease allowlist."
     end