diff --git a/.changeset/spotty-cobras-warn.md b/.changeset/spotty-cobras-warn.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..26fc9e537d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/spotty-cobras-warn.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"astro": patch
+---
+
+Fixes an issue where audit fails to initialize when encountered `<a>` inside `<svg>`
diff --git a/packages/astro/src/runtime/client/dev-toolbar/apps/audit/a11y.ts b/packages/astro/src/runtime/client/dev-toolbar/apps/audit/a11y.ts
index 3bd296589f..45b94b31f6 100644
--- a/packages/astro/src/runtime/client/dev-toolbar/apps/audit/a11y.ts
+++ b/packages/astro/src/runtime/client/dev-toolbar/apps/audit/a11y.ts
@@ -338,8 +338,8 @@ export const a11y: AuditRuleWithSelector[] = [
 		selector: a11y_required_content.join(','),
 		match(element: HTMLElement) {
 			// innerText is used to ignore hidden text
-			const innerText = element.innerText.trim();
-			if (innerText !== '') return false;
+			const innerText = element.innerText?.trim();
+			if (innerText && innerText !== '') return false;
 
 			// Check for aria-label
 			const ariaLabel = element.getAttribute('aria-label')?.trim();