diff --git a/.github/workflows/static_analysis.yaml b/.github/workflows/static_analysis.yaml
index 36d4f3b7a3..62df9ea63a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/static_analysis.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/static_analysis.yaml
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Provide correct exit status
         shell: bash
         run: |
-          ERROR_COUNT=$(grep cppcheck_run.log -e "severity=\"error\"" -c)
-          EXPECTED_ERROR_COUNT=$(grep .github/workflows/cppcheck_run.log -e "severity=\"error\"" -c)
+          ERROR_COUNT=$(grep cppcheck_run.log -e "severity=\"error\"" -c)  || ERROR_COUNT=0
+          EXPECTED_ERROR_COUNT=$(grep .github/workflows/cppcheck_run.log -e "severity=\"error\"" -c)  || EXPECTED_ERROR_COUNT=0
           if [ $ERROR_COUNT -eq $EXPECTED_ERROR_COUNT ]
           then
             echo "cppcheck_run succeeded, found" $ERROR_COUNT "errors, as expected"