diff --git a/packages/payload/src/fields/validations.spec.ts b/packages/payload/src/fields/validations.spec.ts
index a43194f593..b555e01010 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/fields/validations.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/fields/validations.spec.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,12 @@ let options: ValidateOptions<any, any> = {
     t,
     context: {},
     payload: {
-      config: {},
+      config: {
+        db: {
+          defaultIDType: 'text',
+          init: () => null,
+        },
+      },
     },
   },
 }
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/fields/validations.ts b/packages/payload/src/fields/validations.ts
index f048e82348..80dbdd6f8d 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/fields/validations.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/fields/validations.ts
@@ -494,7 +494,8 @@ export const relationship: Validate<
 
       if (requestedID === null) return false
 
-      const idType = payload.collections[collectionSlug]?.customIDType || payload.db.defaultIDType
+      const idType =
+        payload.collections[collectionSlug]?.customIDType || payload?.db?.defaultIDType || 'text'
 
       return !isValidID(requestedID, idType)
     })