diff --git a/Neos.ContentRepository.Core/Classes/NodeType/NodeType.php b/Neos.ContentRepository.Core/Classes/NodeType/NodeType.php
index 1eaae89553c..ab23b523892 100644
--- a/Neos.ContentRepository.Core/Classes/NodeType/NodeType.php
+++ b/Neos.ContentRepository.Core/Classes/NodeType/NodeType.php
@@ -400,13 +400,31 @@ public function getProperties(): array
     }
 
     /**
-     * Returns the configured type of the specified property
+     * Check if the property is configured in the schema.
+     */
+    public function hasProperty(string $propertyName): bool
+    {
+        $this->initialize();
+
+        return isset($this->fullConfiguration['properties'][$propertyName]);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the configured type of the specified property, and falls back to 'string'.
      *
-     * @param string $propertyName Name of the property
+     * @throws \InvalidArgumentException if the property is not configured
      */
     public function getPropertyType(string $propertyName): string
     {
         $this->initialize();
+
+        if (!$this->hasProperty($propertyName)) {
+            throw new \InvalidArgumentException(
+                sprintf('NodeType schema has no property "%s" configured. Cannot read its type.', $propertyName),
+                1695062252040
+            );
+        }
+
         return $this->fullConfiguration['properties'][$propertyName]['type'] ?? 'string';
     }
 
diff --git a/Neos.ContentRepository.NodeAccess/Classes/FlowQueryOperations/PropertyOperation.php b/Neos.ContentRepository.NodeAccess/Classes/FlowQueryOperations/PropertyOperation.php
index 127a0244727..dc3701cdda4 100644
--- a/Neos.ContentRepository.NodeAccess/Classes/FlowQueryOperations/PropertyOperation.php
+++ b/Neos.ContentRepository.NodeAccess/Classes/FlowQueryOperations/PropertyOperation.php
@@ -110,7 +110,11 @@ public function evaluate(FlowQuery $flowQuery, array $arguments): mixed
             return ObjectAccess::getPropertyPath($element, substr($propertyName, 1));
         }
 
-        if ($element->nodeType->getPropertyType($propertyName) === 'reference') {
+        $propertyType = $element->nodeType->hasProperty($propertyName)
+            ? $element->nodeType->getPropertyType($propertyName)
+            : null;
+
+        if ($propertyType === 'reference') {
             $subgraph = $this->contentRepositoryRegistry->subgraphForNode($element);
             return (
                 $subgraph->findReferences(
@@ -120,7 +124,7 @@ public function evaluate(FlowQuery $flowQuery, array $arguments): mixed
             )?->node;
         }
 
-        if ($element->nodeType->getPropertyType($propertyName) === 'references') {
+        if ($propertyType === 'references') {
             $subgraph = $this->contentRepositoryRegistry->subgraphForNode($element);
             return $subgraph->findReferences(
                 $element->nodeAggregateId,