diff --git a/client/modules/IDE/actions/project.js b/client/modules/IDE/actions/project.js
index cf556f8532..bc2c09f25c 100644
--- a/client/modules/IDE/actions/project.js
+++ b/client/modules/IDE/actions/project.js
@@ -196,12 +196,12 @@ export function saveProject(
           dispatch(endSavingProject());
           dispatch(setToastText('Toast.SketchFailedSave'));
           dispatch(showToast(1500));
-          if (response.status === 403) {
+          if (response?.status === 403) {
             dispatch(showErrorModal('staleSession'));
-          } else if (response.status === 409) {
+          } else if (response?.status === 409) {
             dispatch(showErrorModal('staleProject'));
           } else {
-            dispatch(projectSaveFail(response.data));
+            dispatch(projectSaveFail(response?.data));
           }
         });
     }
@@ -246,10 +246,10 @@ export function saveProject(
         dispatch(endSavingProject());
         dispatch(setToastText('Toast.SketchFailedSave'));
         dispatch(showToast(1500));
-        if (response.status === 403) {
+        if (response?.status === 403) {
           dispatch(showErrorModal('staleSession'));
         } else {
-          dispatch(projectSaveFail(response.data));
+          dispatch(projectSaveFail(response?.data));
         }
       });
   };
diff --git a/client/modules/IDE/actions/project.unit.test.js b/client/modules/IDE/actions/project.unit.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..916cd97277
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/modules/IDE/actions/project.unit.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+import configureStore from 'redux-mock-store';
+import thunk from 'redux-thunk';
+
+import * as ProjectActions from './project';
+import * as ActionTypes from '../../../constants';
+import { apiClient } from '../../../utils/apiClient';
+import { initialTestState } from '../../../testData/testReduxStore';
+
+const mockStore = configureStore([thunk]);
+
+const existingProjectState = {
+  ...initialTestState,
+  project: {
+    ...initialTestState.project,
+    id: 'project123',
+    owner: { id: initialTestState.user.id }
+  }
+};
+
+const newProjectState = {
+  ...initialTestState,
+  project: {
+    ...initialTestState.project,
+    id: undefined,
+    owner: undefined
+  }
+};
+
+const httpError = (status, data) => ({
+  response: { status, data }
+});
+
+const expectSaveFailureToast = (actions) => {
+  expect(actions).toContainEqual(ProjectActions.startSavingProject());
+  expect(actions).toContainEqual(ProjectActions.endSavingProject());
+  expect(actions).toContainEqual({
+    type: ActionTypes.SET_TOAST_TEXT,
+    text: 'Toast.SketchFailedSave'
+  });
+  expect(actions).toContainEqual({ type: ActionTypes.SHOW_TOAST });
+};
+
+describe('saveProject', () => {
+  let store;
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    jest.restoreAllMocks();
+    if (store) {
+      store.clearActions();
+    }
+  });
+
+  describe('updating an existing project (PUT)', () => {
+    it('handles a network error without throwing when error.response is undefined', async () => {
+      store = mockStore(existingProjectState);
+      jest
+        .spyOn(apiClient, 'put')
+        .mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('Network Error'));
+
+      await expect(
+        store.dispatch(ProjectActions.saveProject())
+      ).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+
+      const actions = store.getActions();
+      expectSaveFailureToast(actions);
+      expect(actions).toContainEqual(ProjectActions.projectSaveFail(undefined));
+      expect(actions).not.toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({ type: ActionTypes.SHOW_ERROR_MODAL })
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('shows the staleSession modal on 403', async () => {
+      store = mockStore(existingProjectState);
+      jest
+        .spyOn(apiClient, 'put')
+        .mockRejectedValueOnce(httpError(403, { error: 'Forbidden' }));
+
+      await store.dispatch(ProjectActions.saveProject());
+
+      const actions = store.getActions();
+      expectSaveFailureToast(actions);
+      expect(actions).toContainEqual({
+        type: ActionTypes.SHOW_ERROR_MODAL,
+        modalType: 'staleSession'
+      });
+      expect(actions).not.toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({ type: ActionTypes.PROJECT_SAVE_FAIL })
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('shows the staleProject modal on 409', async () => {
+      store = mockStore(existingProjectState);
+      jest
+        .spyOn(apiClient, 'put')
+        .mockRejectedValueOnce(httpError(409, { error: 'Conflict' }));
+
+      await store.dispatch(ProjectActions.saveProject());
+
+      const actions = store.getActions();
+      expectSaveFailureToast(actions);
+      expect(actions).toContainEqual({
+        type: ActionTypes.SHOW_ERROR_MODAL,
+        modalType: 'staleProject'
+      });
+      expect(actions).not.toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({ type: ActionTypes.PROJECT_SAVE_FAIL })
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('creating a new project (POST)', () => {
+    it('handles a network error without throwing when error.response is undefined', async () => {
+      store = mockStore(newProjectState);
+      jest
+        .spyOn(apiClient, 'post')
+        .mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('Network Error'));
+
+      await expect(
+        store.dispatch(ProjectActions.saveProject())
+      ).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+
+      const actions = store.getActions();
+      expectSaveFailureToast(actions);
+      expect(actions).toContainEqual(ProjectActions.projectSaveFail(undefined));
+      expect(actions).not.toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({ type: ActionTypes.SHOW_ERROR_MODAL })
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('shows the staleSession modal on 403', async () => {
+      store = mockStore(newProjectState);
+      jest
+        .spyOn(apiClient, 'post')
+        .mockRejectedValueOnce(httpError(403, { error: 'Forbidden' }));
+
+      await store.dispatch(ProjectActions.saveProject());
+
+      const actions = store.getActions();
+      expectSaveFailureToast(actions);
+      expect(actions).toContainEqual({
+        type: ActionTypes.SHOW_ERROR_MODAL,
+        modalType: 'staleSession'
+      });
+      expect(actions).not.toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({ type: ActionTypes.PROJECT_SAVE_FAIL })
+      );
+    });
+  });
+});