diff --git a/core/core-defuns.el b/core/core-defuns.el
index 424d3afd8..69b5ea939 100644
--- a/core/core-defuns.el
+++ b/core/core-defuns.el
@@ -101,7 +101,8 @@ Examples:
                       (defun ,hook-name ()
                         (when (and (if ,match (string-match-p ,match (buffer-file-name)) t)
                                    (or ,(not files)
-                                       (and (not ,mode)
+                                       (and (boundp ',mode)
+                                            (not ,mode)
                                             (narf/project-has-files ,@(-list files)))))
                           (,mode 1)))
                       ,@(if (and in (listp in))