diff --git a/wordpress.org/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wporg-gp-plugin-directory/inc/cli/class-set-plugin-project.php b/wordpress.org/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wporg-gp-plugin-directory/inc/cli/class-set-plugin-project.php
index 993d82add4..3742d04ff7 100644
--- a/wordpress.org/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wporg-gp-plugin-directory/inc/cli/class-set-plugin-project.php
+++ b/wordpress.org/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wporg-gp-plugin-directory/inc/cli/class-set-plugin-project.php
@@ -295,9 +295,13 @@ private function get_plugin_details( $slug ) {
 			)
 		);
 
-		$details = $json && '{' == $json[0] ? json_decode( $json ) : null;
+		if ( ! json_validate( $json ) ) {
+			return null;
+		}
+
+		$details = json_decode( $json );
 
-		if ( isset( $details->error ) ) {
+		if ( ! is_object( $details ) || isset( $details->error ) ) {
 			return null;
 		}