diff --git a/modules/brew/brew.sh b/modules/brew/brew.sh
index 2a82e733..ba867aa3 100644
--- a/modules/brew/brew.sh
+++ b/modules/brew/brew.sh
@@ -39,42 +39,42 @@ fi
 MODULE_DIRECTORY="${MODULE_DIRECTORY:-/tmp/modules}"
 
 # Configuration values
-AUTO_UPDATE=$(echo "${1}" | jq -r '.["auto-update"]')
+AUTO_UPDATE=$(echo "${1}" | jq -r 'try .["auto-update"]')
 if [[ -z "${AUTO_UPDATE}" || "${AUTO_UPDATE}" == "null" ]]; then
     AUTO_UPDATE=true
 fi
 
-UPDATE_INTERVAL=$(echo "${1}" | jq -r '.["update-interval"]')
+UPDATE_INTERVAL=$(echo "${1}" | jq -r 'try .["update-interval"]')
 if [[ -z "${UPDATE_INTERVAL}" || "${UPDATE_INTERVAL}" == "null" ]]; then
     UPDATE_INTERVAL="6h"
 fi
 
-UPDATE_WAIT_AFTER_BOOT=$(echo "${1}" | jq -r '.["update-wait-after-boot"]')
+UPDATE_WAIT_AFTER_BOOT=$(echo "${1}" | jq -r 'try .["update-wait-after-boot"]')
 if [[ -z "${UPDATE_WAIT_AFTER_BOOT}" || "${UPDATE_WAIT_AFTER_BOOT}" == "null" ]]; then
     UPDATE_WAIT_AFTER_BOOT="10min"
 fi
 
-AUTO_UPGRADE=$(echo "${1}" | jq -r '.["auto-upgrade"]')
+AUTO_UPGRADE=$(echo "${1}" | jq -r 'try .["auto-upgrade"]')
 if [[ -z "${AUTO_UPGRADE}" || "${AUTO_UPGRADE}" == "null" ]]; then
     AUTO_UPGRADE=true
 fi
 
-UPGRADE_INTERVAL=$(echo "$1" | jq -r '.["upgrade-interval"]')
+UPGRADE_INTERVAL=$(echo "$1" | jq -r 'try .["upgrade-interval"]')
 if [[ -z "${UPGRADE_INTERVAL}" || "${UPGRADE_INTERVAL}" == "null" ]]; then
     UPGRADE_INTERVAL="8h"
 fi
 
-UPGRADE_WAIT_AFTER_BOOT=$(echo "${1}" | jq -r '.["upgrade-wait-after-boot"]')
+UPGRADE_WAIT_AFTER_BOOT=$(echo "${1}" | jq -r 'try .["upgrade-wait-after-boot"]')
 if [[ -z "${UPGRADE_WAIT_AFTER_BOOT}" || "${UPGRADE_WAIT_AFTER_BOOT}" == "null" ]]; then
     UPGRADE_WAIT_AFTER_BOOT="30min"
 fi
 
-NOFILE_LIMITS=$(echo "${1}" | jq -r '.["nofile-limits"]')
+NOFILE_LIMITS=$(echo "${1}" | jq -r 'try .["nofile-limits"]')
 if [[ -z "${NOFILE_LIMITS}" || "${NOFILE_LIMITS}" == "null" ]]; then
     NOFILE_LIMITS=false
 fi
 
-BREW_ANALYTICS=$(echo "${1}" | jq -r '.["brew-analytics"]')
+BREW_ANALYTICS=$(echo "${1}" | jq -r 'try .["brew-analytics"]')
 if [[ -z "${BREW_ANALYTICS}" || "${BREW_ANALYTICS}" == "null" ]]; then
     BREW_ANALYTICS=true
 fi
diff --git a/modules/chezmoi/chezmoi.sh b/modules/chezmoi/chezmoi.sh
index 3ce39f17..510f1a58 100644
--- a/modules/chezmoi/chezmoi.sh
+++ b/modules/chezmoi/chezmoi.sh
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ if [[ $DEBUG == true ]]; then
 fi
 
 # The repository with your chezmoi dotfiles. (default: null)
-DOTFILE_REPOSITORY=$(echo "$1" | jq -r '.["repository"]') # (string)
+DOTFILE_REPOSITORY=$(echo "$1" | jq -r 'try .["repository"]') # (string)
 # The chezmoi repository branch to use.
-DOTFILE_BRANCH=$(echo "$1" | jq -r '.["branch"]')
+DOTFILE_BRANCH=$(echo "$1" | jq -r 'try .["branch"]')
 if [[ -n "${DOTFILE_BRANCH}" && "${DOTFILE_BRANCH}" != "null" ]]; then
   INIT_BRANCH_FLAG="--branch ${DOTFILE_BRANCH}"
 else
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ fi
 #
 # To turn on lingering for a given user, run the following commmand with sudo:
 # 'sudo loginctl enable-linger <username>'
-ALL_USERS=$(echo "$1" | jq -r '.["all-users"]') # (boolean)
+ALL_USERS=$(echo "$1" | jq -r 'try .["all-users"]') # (boolean)
 if [[ -z $ALL_USERS || $ALL_USERS == "null" ]]; then
 	ALL_USERS=true
 fi
@@ -45,24 +45,24 @@ fi
 # This string is passed on directly to systemd's OnUnitInactiveSec. Complete syntax is described here:
 # https://www.freedesktop.org/software/systemd/man/latest/systemd.time.html#
 # Examples: '1d' (1 day - default), '6h' (6 hours), '10m' (10 minutes)
-RUN_EVERY=$(echo "$1" | jq -r '.["run-every"]') # (string)
+RUN_EVERY=$(echo "$1" | jq -r 'try .["run-every"]') # (string)
 if [[ -z $RUN_EVERY || $RUN_EVERY == "null" ]]; then
 	RUN_EVERY="1d"
 fi
 # chezmoi-update.service will also run this much time after the system has booted.
 # Same syntax as RUN_EVERY (default: '5m')
-WAIT_AFTER_BOOT=$(echo "$1" | jq -r '.["wait-after-boot"]') # (string)
+WAIT_AFTER_BOOT=$(echo "$1" | jq -r 'try .["wait-after-boot"]') # (string)
 if [[ -z $WAIT_AFTER_BOOT || $WAIT_AFTER_BOOT == "null" ]]; then
 	WAIT_AFTER_BOOT="5m"
 fi
 
 # If true, disables automatic initialization of chezmoi if no dotfile directory is found. (default: false)
-DISABLE_INIT=$(echo "$1" | jq -r '.["disable-init"]') # (boolean)
+DISABLE_INIT=$(echo "$1" | jq -r 'try .["disable-init"]') # (boolean)
 if [[ -z $DISABLE_INIT || $DISABLE_INIT == "null" ]]; then
 	DISABLE_INIT=false
 fi
 # If true, disables automatic activation of 'chezmoi-update.timer'. (default: false)
-DISABLE_UPDATE=$(echo "$1" | jq -r '.["disable-update"]') # (boolean)
+DISABLE_UPDATE=$(echo "$1" | jq -r 'try .["disable-update"]') # (boolean)
 if [[ -z $DISABLE_UPDATE || $DISABLE_UPDATE == "null" ]]; then
 	DISABLE_UPDATE=false
 fi
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ fi
 # Determines how chezmoi handles conflicting files. (default: "skip")
 # "skip" will not replace files that have changed.
 # "replace" will overwrite all files that have changed.
-FILE_CONFLICT_POLICY=$(echo "$1" | jq -r '.["file-conflict-policy"]') # (string)
+FILE_CONFLICT_POLICY=$(echo "$1" | jq -r 'try .["file-conflict-policy"]') # (string)
 if [[ -z $FILE_CONFLICT_POLICY || $FILE_CONFLICT_POLICY == "null" ]]; then
 	FILE_CONFLICT_POLICY="skip"
 fi
diff --git a/modules/default-flatpaks/v1/default-flatpaks.sh b/modules/default-flatpaks/v1/default-flatpaks.sh
index 577d391e..c27016b0 100644
--- a/modules/default-flatpaks/v1/default-flatpaks.sh
+++ b/modules/default-flatpaks/v1/default-flatpaks.sh
@@ -17,16 +17,16 @@ configure_flatpak_repo () {
     CONFIG_FILE=$1
     INSTALL_LEVEL=$2
     REPO_INFO="/usr/share/bluebuild/default-flatpaks/$INSTALL_LEVEL/repo-info.yml"
-    get_json_array INSTALL "try .$INSTALL_LEVEL.install[]" "$CONFIG_FILE"
+    get_json_array INSTALL "try .["$INSTALL_LEVEL.install"][]" "$CONFIG_FILE"
 
 
     # Checks pre-configured repo info, if exists
     if [[ -f $REPO_INFO ]]; then
         echo "Existing $INSTALL_LEVEL configuration found:"
         cat $REPO_INFO
-        CONFIG_URL=$(jq -r '.["repo-url"]' "$REPO_INFO")
-        CONFIG_NAME=$(jq -r '.["repo-name"]' "$REPO_INFO")
-        CONFIG_TITLE=$(jq -r '.["repo-title"]' "$REPO_INFO")
+        CONFIG_URL=$(jq -r 'try .["repo-url"]' "$REPO_INFO")
+        CONFIG_NAME=$(jq -r 'try .["repo-name"]' "$REPO_INFO")
+        CONFIG_TITLE=$(jq -r 'try .["repo-title"]' "$REPO_INFO")
     else
         CONFIG_URL="null"
         CONFIG_NAME="null"
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ configure_flatpak_repo () {
     fi
 
     echo "Configuring $INSTALL_LEVEL repo in $REPO_INFO"
-    REPO_URL=$(echo "$CONFIG_FILE" | jq -r '.["$INSTALL_LEVEL.repo-url"]')
-    REPO_NAME=$(echo "$CONFIG_FILE" | jq -r '.["$INSTALL_LEVEL.repo-name"]')
-    REPO_TITLE=$(echo "$CONFIG_FILE" | jq -r '.["$INSTALL_LEVEL.repo-title"]')
+    REPO_URL=$(echo "$CONFIG_FILE" | jq -r 'try .["$INSTALL_LEVEL.repo-url"]')
+    REPO_NAME=$(echo "$CONFIG_FILE" | jq -r 'try .["$INSTALL_LEVEL.repo-name"]')
+    REPO_TITLE=$(echo "$CONFIG_FILE" | jq -r 'try .["$INSTALL_LEVEL.repo-title"]')
 
     # If repo-name isn't configured, use flathub as fallback
     # Checked separately from URL to allow custom naming
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ configure_lists () {
     INSTALL_LEVEL=$2
     INSTALL_LIST="/usr/share/bluebuild/default-flatpaks/$INSTALL_LEVEL/install"
     REMOVE_LIST="/usr/share/bluebuild/default-flatpaks/$INSTALL_LEVEL/remove"
-    get_json_array INSTALL "try .$INSTALL_LEVEL.install[]" "$CONFIG_FILE"
-    get_json_array REMOVE "try .$INSTALL_LEVEL.remove[]" "$CONFIG_FILE"
+    get_json_array INSTALL "try .["$INSTALL_LEVEL.install"][]" "$CONFIG_FILE"
+    get_json_array REMOVE "try .["$INSTALL_LEVEL.remove"][]" "$CONFIG_FILE"
 
     echo "Creating $INSTALL_LEVEL Flatpak install list at $INSTALL_LIST"
     if [[ ${#INSTALL[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
@@ -107,12 +107,12 @@ configure_lists () {
 
 check_flatpak_id_validity_from_flathub () {
       if [[ -f "/usr/share/bluebuild/default-flatpaks/system/repo-info.yml" ]]; then
-        SYSTEM_FLATHUB_REPO=$(jq -r '.["repo-url"]' "/usr/share/bluebuild/default-flatpaks/system/repo-info.yml")
+        SYSTEM_FLATHUB_REPO=$(jq -r 'try .["repo-url"]' "/usr/share/bluebuild/default-flatpaks/system/repo-info.yml")
       else
         SYSTEM_FLATHUB_REPO=""
       fi  
       if [[ -f "/usr/share/bluebuild/default-flatpaks/user/repo-info.yml" ]]; then
-        USER_FLATHUB_REPO=$(jq -r '.["repo-url"]' "/usr/share/bluebuild/default-flatpaks/user/repo-info.yml")
+        USER_FLATHUB_REPO=$(jq -r 'try .["repo-url"]' "/usr/share/bluebuild/default-flatpaks/user/repo-info.yml")
       else
         USER_FLATHUB_REPO=""
       fi  
@@ -120,8 +120,8 @@ check_flatpak_id_validity_from_flathub () {
       URL="https://flathub.org/apps"
       CONFIG_FILE="${1}"
       INSTALL_LEVEL="${2}"
-      get_json_array INSTALL "try .$INSTALL_LEVEL.install[]" "${CONFIG_FILE}"
-      get_json_array REMOVE "try .$INSTALL_LEVEL.remove[]" "${CONFIG_FILE}"
+      get_json_array INSTALL "try .["$INSTALL_LEVEL.install"][]" "${CONFIG_FILE}"
+      get_json_array REMOVE "try .["$INSTALL_LEVEL.remove"][]" "${CONFIG_FILE}"
       if [[ "${SYSTEM_FLATHUB_REPO}" == "${FLATHUB_REPO_LINK}" ]] || [[ "${USER_FLATHUB_REPO}" == "${FLATHUB_REPO_LINK}" ]]; then
         echo "Safe-checking if ${INSTALL_LEVEL} flatpak IDs are typed correctly. If test fails, build also fails"
         if [[ ${#INSTALL[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ systemctl enable -f system-flatpak-setup.timer
 systemctl enable -f --global user-flatpak-setup.timer
 
 # Check that `system` is present before configuring. Also copy template list files before writing Flatpak IDs.
-if [[ ! $(echo "$1" | jq -r '.["system"]') == "null" ]]; then
+if [[ ! $(echo "$1" | jq -r 'try .["system"]') == "null" ]]; then
     configure_flatpak_repo "$1" "system"
     if [ ! -f "/usr/share/bluebuild/default-flatpaks/system/install" ]; then
       cp -r "$MODULE_DIRECTORY"/default-flatpaks/config/system/install /usr/share/bluebuild/default-flatpaks/system/install
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ if [[ ! $(echo "$1" | jq -r '.["system"]') == "null" ]]; then
 fi
 
 # Check that `user` is present before configuring. Also copy template list files before writing Flatpak IDs.
-if [[ ! $(echo "$1" | jq -r '.["user"]') == "null" ]]; then
+if [[ ! $(echo "$1" | jq -r 'try .["user"]') == "null" ]]; then
     configure_flatpak_repo "$1" "user"
     if [ ! -f "/usr/share/bluebuild/default-flatpaks/user/install" ]; then
       cp -r "$MODULE_DIRECTORY"/default-flatpaks/config/user/install /usr/share/bluebuild/default-flatpaks/user/install
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ check_flatpak_id_validity_from_flathub "${1}" "system"
 check_flatpak_id_validity_from_flathub "${1}" "user"
 
 echo "Configuring default-flatpaks notifications"
-NOTIFICATIONS=$(echo "$1" | jq -r '.["notify"]')
+NOTIFICATIONS=$(echo "$1" | jq -r 'try .["notify"]')
 CONFIG_NOTIFICATIONS="/usr/share/bluebuild/default-flatpaks/notifications"
 cp -r "${MODULE_DIRECTORY}/default-flatpaks/config/notifications" "${CONFIG_NOTIFICATIONS}"
 if [[ -z "${NOTIFICATIONS}" ]] || [[ "${NOTIFICATIONS}" == "null" ]]; then
diff --git a/modules/default-flatpaks/v1/system-flatpak-setup b/modules/default-flatpaks/v1/system-flatpak-setup
index edfef5f0..adf30f35 100755
--- a/modules/default-flatpaks/v1/system-flatpak-setup
+++ b/modules/default-flatpaks/v1/system-flatpak-setup
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ check_internet_connection() {
 }
 
 REPO_INFO="/usr/share/bluebuild/default-flatpaks/system/repo-info.yml"
-REPO_URL=$(yq '.repo-url' $REPO_INFO)
-REPO_NAME=$(yq '.repo-name' $REPO_INFO)
-REPO_TITLE=$(yq '.repo-title' $REPO_INFO)
+REPO_URL=$(jq -r 'try .["repo-url"]' $REPO_INFO)
+REPO_NAME=$(jq -r 'try .["repo-name"]' $REPO_INFO)
+REPO_TITLE=$(jq -r 'try .["repo-title"]' $REPO_INFO)
 
 # Opt out of and remove Fedora's system flatpak repos
 FLATPAK_SYSTEM_REMOTES=($(flatpak --system remotes))
diff --git a/modules/default-flatpaks/v1/user-flatpak-setup b/modules/default-flatpaks/v1/user-flatpak-setup
index 7437d5ed..53e92bc6 100755
--- a/modules/default-flatpaks/v1/user-flatpak-setup
+++ b/modules/default-flatpaks/v1/user-flatpak-setup
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ check_internet_connection() {
 }
 
 REPO_INFO="/usr/share/bluebuild/default-flatpaks/user/repo-info.yml"
-REPO_URL=$(yq '.repo-url' $REPO_INFO)
-REPO_NAME=$(yq '.repo-name' $REPO_INFO)
-REPO_TITLE=$(yq '.repo-title' $REPO_INFO)
+REPO_URL=$(jq -r 'try .["repo-url"]' $REPO_INFO)
+REPO_NAME=$(jq -r 'try .["repo-name"]' $REPO_INFO)
+REPO_TITLE=$(jq -r 'try .["repo-title"]' $REPO_INFO)
 
 # Remove Fedora's flatpak user repos, if they exist
 FLATPAK_USER_REMOTES=($(flatpak --user remotes))
diff --git a/modules/files/files.sh b/modules/files/files.sh
index a5752448..a3388017 100644
--- a/modules/files/files.sh
+++ b/modules/files/files.sh
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ if [[ ${#FILES[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
     echo "Adding files to image"
     for pair in "${FILES[@]}"; do
       # Support for legacy recipe format to satisfy transition period to new source/destination recipe format
-      if [[ $(echo $pair | jq -r '.["source"]') == "null" || -z $(echo $pair | jq -r '.["source"]') ]] && [[ $(echo $pair | jq -r '.["destination"]') == "null" || -z $(echo $pair | jq -r '.["destination"]') ]]; then
+      if [[ $(echo $pair | jq -r 'try .["source"]') == "null" || -z $(echo $pair | jq -r 'try .["source"]') ]] && [[ $(echo $pair | jq -r 'try .["destination"]') == "null" || -z $(echo $pair | jq -r 'try .["destination"]') ]]; then
         echo "ATTENTION: You are using the legacy module recipe format"
         echo "           It is advised to switch to new module recipe format,"
         echo "           which contains 'source' & 'destination' YAML keys"
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ if [[ ${#FILES[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
         FILE="$PWD/$(echo $pair | jq -r 'to_entries | .[0].key')"
         DEST=$(echo $pair | jq -r 'to_entries | .[0].value')
       else
-        FILE="$PWD/$(echo $pair | jq -r '.["source"]')"
-        DEST=$(echo $pair | jq -r '.["destination"]')
+        FILE="$PWD/$(echo $pair | jq -r 'try .["source"]')"
+        DEST=$(echo $pair | jq -r 'try .["destination"]')
       fi 
         if [ -d "$FILE" ]; then
             if [ ! -d "$DEST" ]; then
diff --git a/modules/justfiles/justfiles.sh b/modules/justfiles/justfiles.sh
index f0f353bd..e9e5c7d9 100644
--- a/modules/justfiles/justfiles.sh
+++ b/modules/justfiles/justfiles.sh
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
-get_json_array CONFIG_SELECTION 'try .include[]' "$1"
-VALIDATE="$(echo "$1" | jq -r '.["validate"]')"
+get_json_array CONFIG_SELECTION 'try .["include"][]' "$1"
+VALIDATE="$(echo "$1" | jq -r 'try .["validate"]')"
 
 IMPORT_FILE="/usr/share/ublue-os/just/60-custom.just"
 CONFIG_FOLDER="${CONFIG_DIRECTORY}/justfiles"
diff --git a/modules/rpm-ostree/rpm-ostree.sh b/modules/rpm-ostree/rpm-ostree.sh
index d1eb57d1..5f2028fc 100644
--- a/modules/rpm-ostree/rpm-ostree.sh
+++ b/modules/rpm-ostree/rpm-ostree.sh
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ if [[ ${#REPLACE[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
     for REPLACEMENT in "${REPLACE[@]}"; do
 
         # Get repository
-        REPO=$(echo "${REPLACEMENT}" | jq -r '.["from-repo"]')
+        REPO=$(echo "${REPLACEMENT}" | jq -r 'try .["from-repo"]')
         REPO="${REPO//%OS_VERSION%/${OS_VERSION}}"
 
         # Ensure repository is provided
diff --git a/modules/yafti/yafti.sh b/modules/yafti/yafti.sh
index da6612b3..b788a4bc 100644
--- a/modules/yafti/yafti.sh
+++ b/modules/yafti/yafti.sh
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ fi
 
 YAFTI_FILE="${FIRSTBOOT_DATA}/yafti.yml"
 
-get_json_array FLATPAKS 'try .custom-flatpaks[]' "$1"
+get_json_array FLATPAKS 'try .["custom-flatpaks"][]' "$1"
 if [[ ${#FLATPAKS[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
     echo "Adding Flatpaks to yafti.yml"
     sed -i '/^  Custom:/,/^  / s/description: .*/description: "Flatpaks suggested by the image maintainer."/' "${YAFTI_FILE}"