diff --git a/.changeset/chilled-dolphins-tap.md b/.changeset/chilled-dolphins-tap.md
index 92549aaef0..c4f4c98aec 100644
--- a/.changeset/chilled-dolphins-tap.md
+++ b/.changeset/chilled-dolphins-tap.md
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 '@backstage/plugin-github-pull-requests-board': patch
 ---
 
-The cardheader component in the github-pull-requests-board plugin now requires that a `status` is passed to the component.
+The `CardHeader` component in the `github-pull-requests-board` plugin will show the status for the PR
diff --git a/plugins/github-pull-requests-board/src/components/Card/Card.tsx b/plugins/github-pull-requests-board/src/components/Card/Card.tsx
index 09c6352b60..6642cdeb06 100644
--- a/plugins/github-pull-requests-board/src/components/Card/Card.tsx
+++ b/plugins/github-pull-requests-board/src/components/Card/Card.tsx
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ type Props = {
   isDraft: boolean;
   repositoryIsArchived: boolean;
   labels?: Label[];
-  status: Status;
+  status?: Status;
 };
 
 const Card: FunctionComponent<PropsWithChildren<Props>> = (
diff --git a/plugins/github-pull-requests-board/src/components/Card/CardHeader.test.tsx b/plugins/github-pull-requests-board/src/components/Card/CardHeader.test.tsx
index 0ca1bfd43f..b4bda755d2 100644
--- a/plugins/github-pull-requests-board/src/components/Card/CardHeader.test.tsx
+++ b/plugins/github-pull-requests-board/src/components/Card/CardHeader.test.tsx
@@ -65,6 +65,11 @@ describe('<CardHeader/>', () => {
   it('finds commit status in PR Card Header', async () => {
     await renderInTestApp(<CardHeader {...props} />);
     expect(screen.getByText('Commit Status:')).toBeInTheDocument();
-    expect(props.status.commit.statusCheckRollup.state).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(props.status?.commit.statusCheckRollup.state).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it('does not find commit status in PR Card Header when PR does not include status', async () => {
+    await renderInTestApp(<CardHeader {...props} />);
+    expect(CardHeader.defaultProps?.status).toBeUndefined();
   });
 });
diff --git a/plugins/github-pull-requests-board/src/components/Card/CardHeader.tsx b/plugins/github-pull-requests-board/src/components/Card/CardHeader.tsx
index 9a47938139..652cf740c4 100644
--- a/plugins/github-pull-requests-board/src/components/Card/CardHeader.tsx
+++ b/plugins/github-pull-requests-board/src/components/Card/CardHeader.tsx
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ type Props = {
   isDraft: boolean;
   repositoryIsArchived: boolean;
   labels?: Label[];
-  status: Status;
+  status?: Status;
 };
 
 const CardHeader: FunctionComponent<Props> = (props: Props) => {
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ const CardHeader: FunctionComponent<Props> = (props: Props) => {
       <Box display="flex" alignItems="center" flexWrap="wrap" paddingTop={1}>
         <Typography variant="body2" component="p">
           Commit Status:{' '}
-          <strong>{status.commit.statusCheckRollup.state}</strong>
+          <strong>{status?.commit.statusCheckRollup.state}</strong>
         </Typography>
       </Box>
       {labels && (
diff --git a/plugins/github-pull-requests-board/src/components/PullRequestCard/PullRequestCard.tsx b/plugins/github-pull-requests-board/src/components/PullRequestCard/PullRequestCard.tsx
index 8736644f09..59f7892d0e 100644
--- a/plugins/github-pull-requests-board/src/components/PullRequestCard/PullRequestCard.tsx
+++ b/plugins/github-pull-requests-board/src/components/PullRequestCard/PullRequestCard.tsx
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ type Props = {
   author: Author;
   url: string;
   reviews: Reviews;
-  status: Status;
+  status?: Status;
   repositoryName: string;
   repositoryIsArchived: boolean;
   isDraft: boolean;