diff --git a/src/ansiblelint/rules/role_name.py b/src/ansiblelint/rules/role_name.py
index 157da1dd77..432686be70 100644
--- a/src/ansiblelint/rules/role_name.py
+++ b/src/ansiblelint/rules/role_name.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def matchyaml(self, file: Lintable) -> list[MatchError]:
         if file.kind not in ("meta", "role", "playbook"):
             return result
 
-        if file.kind == "meta":
+        if file.kind == "meta" and file.data:
             for role in file.data.get("dependencies", []):
                 if isinstance(role, dict):
                     role_name = role["role"]