diff --git a/opendbc_repo/opendbc/car/gm/carstate.py b/opendbc_repo/opendbc/car/gm/carstate.py
index 3bbbe6b14..97787af92 100644
--- a/opendbc_repo/opendbc/car/gm/carstate.py
+++ b/opendbc_repo/opendbc/car/gm/carstate.py
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@ BUTTONS_DICT = {CruiseButtons.RES_ACCEL: ButtonType.accelCruise, CruiseButtons.D
 HARD_BUTTONS_DICT = {CruiseButtons.RES_ACCEL: ButtonType.accelHardCruise, CruiseButtons.DECEL_SET: ButtonType.decelHardCruise}
 NORMAL_CRUISE_BUTTONS = (CruiseButtons.RES_ACCEL, CruiseButtons.DECEL_SET)
 
+
+def get_hard_cruise_buttons(steering_button_msg: dict) -> int:
+  return steering_button_msg.get("ACCButtonsHard", CruiseButtons.INIT)
+
+
 GearShifter = structs.CarState.GearShifter
 BOLT_GEN1_CANCEL_PERSONALITY_CARS = {
   CAR.CHEVROLET_BOLT_CC_2017,
@@ -126,20 +131,22 @@ class CarState(CarStateBase):
     prev_hard_cruise_buttons = self.hard_cruise_buttons
     prev_distance_button = self.distance_button
     if not sdgm_non_volt:
-      self.cruise_buttons = pt_cp.vl["ASCMSteeringButton"]["ACCButtons"]
-      self.hard_cruise_buttons = pt_cp.vl["ASCMSteeringButton"]["ACCButtonsHard"]
-      self.distance_button = pt_cp.vl["ASCMSteeringButton"]["DistanceButton"]
-      self.buttons_counter = pt_cp.vl["ASCMSteeringButton"]["RollingCounter"]
-      self.steering_button_checksum = pt_cp.vl["ASCMSteeringButton"]["SteeringButtonChecksum"]
+      steering_button_msg = pt_cp.vl["ASCMSteeringButton"]
+      self.cruise_buttons = steering_button_msg["ACCButtons"]
+      self.hard_cruise_buttons = get_hard_cruise_buttons(steering_button_msg)
+      self.distance_button = steering_button_msg["DistanceButton"]
+      self.buttons_counter = steering_button_msg["RollingCounter"]
+      self.steering_button_checksum = steering_button_msg["SteeringButtonChecksum"]
       self.steering_button_ts_nanos = pt_cp.ts_nanos["ASCMSteeringButton"]["ACCButtons"]
-      acc_always_one = pt_cp.vl["ASCMSteeringButton"]["ACCAlwaysOne"]
-      acc_hidden_bit = pt_cp.vl["ASCMSteeringButton"].get("ACCHiddenBit", 0)
+      acc_always_one = steering_button_msg["ACCAlwaysOne"]
+      acc_hidden_bit = steering_button_msg.get("ACCHiddenBit", 0)
       self.steering_button_prefix = (int(acc_always_one) & 1) | ((int(acc_hidden_bit) & 1) << 6)
     else:
-      self.cruise_buttons = cam_cp.vl["ASCMSteeringButton"]["ACCButtons"]
-      self.hard_cruise_buttons = cam_cp.vl["ASCMSteeringButton"]["ACCButtonsHard"]
-      self.distance_button = cam_cp.vl["ASCMSteeringButton"]["DistanceButton"]
-      self.buttons_counter = cam_cp.vl["ASCMSteeringButton"]["RollingCounter"]
+      steering_button_msg = cam_cp.vl["ASCMSteeringButton"]
+      self.cruise_buttons = steering_button_msg["ACCButtons"]
+      self.hard_cruise_buttons = get_hard_cruise_buttons(steering_button_msg)
+      self.distance_button = steering_button_msg["DistanceButton"]
+      self.buttons_counter = steering_button_msg["RollingCounter"]
       self.steering_button_ts_nanos = cam_cp.ts_nanos["ASCMSteeringButton"]["ACCButtons"]
 
     # A GM hard press keeps the normal cruise button signal active too. Suppress
diff --git a/opendbc_repo/opendbc/car/gm/tests/test_gm.py b/opendbc_repo/opendbc/car/gm/tests/test_gm.py
index 66eca413f..e57406f01 100644
--- a/opendbc_repo/opendbc/car/gm/tests/test_gm.py
+++ b/opendbc_repo/opendbc/car/gm/tests/test_gm.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from opendbc.can import CANPacker, CANParser
 from opendbc.car import Bus, DT_CTRL, structs
 from opendbc.car.car_helpers import interfaces
 from opendbc.car.gm import gmcan
-from opendbc.car.gm.carstate import CarState as GMCarState
+from opendbc.car.gm.carstate import CarState as GMCarState, get_hard_cruise_buttons
 from opendbc.car.gm.carcontroller import (
   VisualAlert,
   get_acc_dashboard_fcw_alert,
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from opendbc.car.gm.carcontroller import (
 import opendbc.car.gm.interface as gm_interface
 from opendbc.car.common.conversions import Conversions as CV
 from opendbc.car.gm.fingerprints import FINGERPRINTS
-from opendbc.car.gm.values import CAMERA_ACC_CAR, CAR, CC_ONLY_CAR, DBC, GM_RX_OFFSET, GMFlags, GMSafetyFlags
+from opendbc.car.gm.values import CAMERA_ACC_CAR, CAR, CC_ONLY_CAR, DBC, GM_RX_OFFSET, CruiseButtons, GMFlags, GMSafetyFlags
 from opendbc.safety import ALTERNATIVE_EXPERIENCE
 from openpilot.common.params import Params
 
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ class TestGMFingerprint:
 
 
 class TestGMInterface:
+  def test_missing_hard_cruise_signal_defaults_to_init(self):
+    assert get_hard_cruise_buttons({"ACCButtons": CruiseButtons.RES_ACCEL}) == CruiseButtons.INIT
+    assert get_hard_cruise_buttons({"ACCButtonsHard": CruiseButtons.DECEL_SET}) == CruiseButtons.DECEL_SET
+
   @parameterized.expand(VOLT_CARS)
   def test_volt_min_steer_speed_is_7_mph(self, car_model):
     CarInterface = interfaces[car_model]