diff --git a/.github/scripts/check-test-regression.py b/.github/scripts/check-test-regression.py
index 6dd0e979921cd..10cc78de59cb1 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/check-test-regression.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/check-test-regression.py
@@ -14,8 +14,22 @@ def parse_forge_json(json_file):
 
     print(f"Parsing test results from {json_file}...")
 
+    # Check for empty file
+    if json_file.stat().st_size == 0:
+        print(f"WARNING: {json_file} is empty (forge may have failed to compile or run)")
+        return {}
+
     with open(json_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
-        data = json.load(f)
+        content = f.read().strip()
+        if not content:
+            print(f"WARNING: {json_file} contains only whitespace")
+            return {}
+        try:
+            data = json.loads(content)
+        except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+            print(f"WARNING: {json_file} contains invalid JSON: {e}")
+            print(f"File content (first 500 chars): {content[:500]}")
+            return {}
 
     for contract_key, contract_data in data.items():
         contract_name = contract_key.split(':')[-1] if ':' in contract_key else contract_key
diff --git a/.github/scripts/test-external-projects.sh b/.github/scripts/test-external-projects.sh
index a22fe708299ba..cbc5da3582974 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/test-external-projects.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/test-external-projects.sh
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ echo "$PROJECTS" | jq -c '.[]' | while read -r project; do
       echo "Testing in: $dir"
       cd "$dir"
       TEMP_JSON=$(mktemp)
-      forge test --polkadot --json > "$TEMP_JSON" 2>&1 || true
+      # stdout goes to JSON file, stderr goes to console for debugging
+      forge test --polkadot --json > "$TEMP_JSON" || true
       # Merge JSON outputs using jq
       if [ -s "$TEMP_JSON" ] && jq empty "$TEMP_JSON" 2>/dev/null; then
         jq -s '.[0] * .[1]' "$OUTPUT_FILE" "$TEMP_JSON" > "${OUTPUT_FILE}.tmp" && mv "${OUTPUT_FILE}.tmp" "$OUTPUT_FILE"
@@ -50,7 +51,8 @@ echo "$PROJECTS" | jq -c '.[]' | while read -r project; do
     if [ -n "$WORKING_DIR" ]; then
       cd "$WORKING_DIR"
     fi
-    forge test --polkadot $EXTRA_ARGS --json > "$OUTPUT_FILE" 2>&1 || true
+    # stdout goes to JSON file, stderr goes to console for debugging
+    forge test --polkadot $EXTRA_ARGS --json > "$OUTPUT_FILE" || true
   fi
 
   cd "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE"