diff --git a/syft/cataloger/javascript/parse_package_json.go b/syft/cataloger/javascript/parse_package_json.go
index 077c433e7..0bccb100c 100644
--- a/syft/cataloger/javascript/parse_package_json.go
+++ b/syft/cataloger/javascript/parse_package_json.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/internal/log"
 	"io"
 	"regexp"
 
@@ -172,6 +173,12 @@ func parsePackageJSON(_ string, reader io.Reader) ([]pkg.Package, error) {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to parse package.json file: %w", err)
 		}
 
+		if !p.hasMinimumRequiredValues() {
+			log.Debug("encountered package.json file without the minimum number of field values required for" +
+				" consideration as a package")
+			return nil, nil
+		}
+
 		licenses, err := licensesFromJSON(p)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to parse package.json file: %w", err)
@@ -195,3 +202,7 @@ func parsePackageJSON(_ string, reader io.Reader) ([]pkg.Package, error) {
 
 	return packages, nil
 }
+
+func (p PackageJSON) hasMinimumRequiredValues() bool {
+	return p.Name != "" && p.Version != ""
+}
diff --git a/syft/cataloger/javascript/parse_package_json_test.go b/syft/cataloger/javascript/parse_package_json_test.go
index c2940a7a2..6ac5f162a 100644
--- a/syft/cataloger/javascript/parse_package_json_test.go
+++ b/syft/cataloger/javascript/parse_package_json_test.go
@@ -142,3 +142,20 @@ func TestParsePackageJSON(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestParsePackageJSON_Partial(t *testing.T) { // see https://github.com/anchore/syft/issues/311
+	const fixtureFile = "test-fixtures/pkg-json/package-partial.json"
+	fixture, err := os.Open(fixtureFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to open fixture: %+v", err)
+	}
+
+	actual, err := parsePackageJSON("", fixture)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to parse package-lock.json: %+v", err)
+	}
+
+	if len(actual) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("no packages should've been returned")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/syft/cataloger/javascript/test-fixtures/pkg-json/package-partial.json b/syft/cataloger/javascript/test-fixtures/pkg-json/package-partial.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..db7a90b51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syft/cataloger/javascript/test-fixtures/pkg-json/package-partial.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "sideEffects": false,
+  "module": "../../esm/fp/isSaturday/index.js",
+  "typings": "../../typings.d.ts"
+}