diff --git a/modules/grids/app/components/grids/widgets/project_timeline.rb b/modules/grids/app/components/grids/widgets/project_timeline.rb
index af626d98b5eb..005bb687bf7c 100644
--- a/modules/grids/app/components/grids/widgets/project_timeline.rb
+++ b/modules/grids/app/components/grids/widgets/project_timeline.rb
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def title
       end
 
       def phases_data
-        project.phases.active
+        active_project_phases
                .eager_load(definition: :color)
                .order("project_phase_definitions.position")
                .map { |phase| phase_data(phase) }
@@ -52,11 +52,11 @@ def phases_data
       end
 
       def any_phases?
-        project.phases.active.with_timeline_content.exists?
+        active_project_phases.with_timeline_content.exists?
       end
 
       def render?
-        User.current.allowed_in_project?(:view_project_phases, project)
+        User.current.allowed_in_project?(:view_project_phases, project) && active_project_phases.any?
       end
 
       def wrapper_arguments
@@ -78,6 +78,10 @@ def phase_data(phase) # rubocop:disable Metrics/AbcSize
           finishGateName: phase.definition.finish_gate_name
         }
       end
+
+      def active_project_phases
+        @active_project_phases ||= project.phases.active
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/modules/grids/spec/components/grids/widgets/project_timeline_spec.rb b/modules/grids/spec/components/grids/widgets/project_timeline_spec.rb
index 03aa00971ec5..a831b2573cc9 100644
--- a/modules/grids/spec/components/grids/widgets/project_timeline_spec.rb
+++ b/modules/grids/spec/components/grids/widgets/project_timeline_spec.rb
@@ -40,12 +40,26 @@
 
   describe "#render?" do
     context "with view_project_phases permission" do
-      before { create(:member, user:, project:, roles: [role]) }
+      before do
+        create(:member, user:, project:, roles: [role])
+        create(:project_phase, project:)
+      end
 
       it { expect(component.render?).to be(true) }
     end
 
     context "without permission" do
+      before { create(:project_phase, project:) }
+
+      it { expect(component.render?).to be(false) }
+    end
+
+    context "with only inactive phases" do
+      before do
+        create(:member, user:, project:, roles: [role])
+        create(:project_phase, :inactive, project:)
+      end
+
       it { expect(component.render?).to be(false) }
     end
   end
@@ -108,7 +122,9 @@
   describe "rendering" do
     before { create(:member, user:, project:, roles: [role]) }
 
-    context "with no phases" do
+    context "with phases without dates" do
+      before { create(:project_phase, project:, finish_date: nil, start_date: nil) }
+
       it "renders a blankslate" do
         render_inline(component)
         expect(page).to have_test_selector("project-timeline-widget-empty")