diff --git a/src/search.ts b/src/search.ts
index 4c82a4b..36519f5 100644
--- a/src/search.ts
+++ b/src/search.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ async function search(query: Query): Promise<SearchResult[]> {
 
   // Half the score for files that are in Obsidian's excluded list
   results.forEach(result => {
-    if (app.metadataCache.isUserIgnored(result.id)) {
+    if (app.metadataCache.isUserIgnored && app.metadataCache.isUserIgnored(result.id)) {
       result.score /= 3 // TODO: make this value configurable or toggleable?
     }
   })
diff --git a/src/types.d.ts b/src/types.d.ts
index a46c2d6..1c3ff4c 100644
--- a/src/types.d.ts
+++ b/src/types.d.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@ import { type MetadataCache } from 'obsidian'
 
 declare module 'obsidian' {
   interface MetadataCache {
-    isUserIgnored(path:string):boolean
+    isUserIgnored?(path: string): boolean
   }
 }