Safely load api routes only when routes file exists

bootstrap/app.php

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 return Application::configure(basePath: dirname(__DIR__))
     ->withRouting(
         web: __DIR__.'/../routes/web.php',
-        api: __DIR__.'/../routes/api.php',
+        api: file_exists(__DIR__.'/../routes/api.php') ? __DIR__.'/../routes/api.php' : null,
         commands: __DIR__.'/../routes/console.php',
         health: '/up',
     )

tests/Feature/ApiRoutingTest.php

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+<?php
+
+use Illuminate\Contracts\Console\Kernel;
+use Illuminate\Foundation\Application;
+
+test('application boots when routes api file is missing', function () {
+    $apiFile = base_path('routes/api.php');
+    $backupFile = base_path('routes/api.php.test_backup');
+
+    if (file_exists($apiFile)) {
+        rename($apiFile, $backupFile);
+    }
+
+    try {
+        $app = require base_path('bootstrap/app.php');
+        $app->make(Kernel::class)->bootstrap();
+
+        expect($app)->toBeInstanceOf(Application::class);
+    } finally {
+        if (file_exists($backupFile)) {
+            rename($backupFile, $apiFile);
+        }
+    }
+});
+
+test('api routes are registered when routes api file is present', function () {
+    $this->getJson('/api/user')->assertStatus(401);
+});