diff --git a/bids-validator/src/schema/applyRules.ts b/bids-validator/src/schema/applyRules.ts
index 79657efc8..c246e622d 100644
--- a/bids-validator/src/schema/applyRules.ts
+++ b/bids-validator/src/schema/applyRules.ts
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ export function evalCheck(src: string, context: BIDSContext) {
     return test(safeContext)
   } catch (error) {
     logger.debug(error)
-    return false
+    return null
   }
 }