diff --git a/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/java/dependencies/search/RepositoryHasDependency.java b/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/java/dependencies/search/RepositoryHasDependency.java
index ef5fb627..0b67f7a2 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/java/dependencies/search/RepositoryHasDependency.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/java/dependencies/search/RepositoryHasDependency.java
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public class RepositoryHasDependency extends ScanningRecipe<AtomicBoolean> {
 
     @Override
     public AtomicBoolean getInitialValue(ExecutionContext ctx) {
-        return new AtomicBoolean();
+        return new AtomicBoolean(false);
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/java/dependencies/search/RepositoryHasDependencyTest.java b/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/java/dependencies/search/RepositoryHasDependencyTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ea580687
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/java/dependencies/search/RepositoryHasDependencyTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2026 the original author or authors.
+ * <p>
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * <p>
+ * https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * <p>
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.openrewrite.java.dependencies.search;
+
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import org.openrewrite.test.RecipeSpec;
+import org.openrewrite.test.RewriteTest;
+
+import static org.openrewrite.gradle.toolingapi.Assertions.withToolingApi;
+import static org.openrewrite.java.Assertions.mavenProject;
+import static org.openrewrite.maven.Assertions.pomXml;
+
+class RepositoryHasDependencyTest implements RewriteTest {
+
+    @Override
+    public void defaults(RecipeSpec spec) {
+        spec.beforeRecipe(withToolingApi());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void usedAsDeclarativePrecondition() {
+        rewriteRun(
+          //language=yaml
+          spec -> spec.recipeFromYaml("""
+            type: specs.openrewrite.org/v1beta/recipe
+            name: org.openrewrite.test.UsePrecondition
+            description: Test recipe using RepositoryHasDependency as a precondition.
+            preconditions:
+              - org.openrewrite.java.dependencies.search.RepositoryHasDependency:
+                  groupIdPattern: org.springframework
+                  artifactIdPattern: spring-beans
+            recipeList:
+              - org.openrewrite.java.dependencies.search.FindMinimumDependencyVersion:
+                  groupIdPattern: org.springframework
+                  artifactIdPattern: spring-beans
+            """, "org.openrewrite.test.UsePrecondition"),
+          mavenProject("project",
+            //language=xml
+            pomXml(
+              """
+                <project>
+                  <groupId>com.example</groupId>
+                  <artifactId>foo</artifactId>
+                  <version>1.0.0</version>
+                  <dependencies>
+                    <dependency>
+                      <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>spring-beans</artifactId>
+                      <version>6.0.0</version>
+                    </dependency>
+                  </dependencies>
+                </project>
+                """,
+              """
+                <!--~~(org.springframework:spring-beans:6.0.0)~~>--><project>
+                  <groupId>com.example</groupId>
+                  <artifactId>foo</artifactId>
+                  <version>1.0.0</version>
+                  <dependencies>
+                    <dependency>
+                      <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>spring-beans</artifactId>
+                      <version>6.0.0</version>
+                    </dependency>
+                  </dependencies>
+                </project>
+                """
+            )
+          )
+        );
+    }
+}