diff --git a/sdk/src/main/java/io/opentdf/platform/sdk/TDF.java b/sdk/src/main/java/io/opentdf/platform/sdk/TDF.java
index 5ae6c016..dd87debf 100644
--- a/sdk/src/main/java/io/opentdf/platform/sdk/TDF.java
+++ b/sdk/src/main/java/io/opentdf/platform/sdk/TDF.java
@@ -431,6 +431,10 @@ public TDFObject createTDF(InputStream payload,
                         tdfConfig.attributes.toArray(new AttributeValueFQN[0]));
             }
 
+            if (granter == null) {
+                throw new AutoConfigureException("Failed to create Granter"); // Replace with appropriate error handling
+            }
+
             List<String> dk = defaultKases(tdfConfig);
             tdfConfig.splitPlan = granter.plan(dk, () -> UUID.randomUUID().toString());