diff --git a/epmet-commons/epmet-commons-tools/src/main/java/com/epmet/commons/tools/utils/EpmetRequestHolder.java b/epmet-commons/epmet-commons-tools/src/main/java/com/epmet/commons/tools/utils/EpmetRequestHolder.java
index 94304fab98..f0dad5d9ab 100644
--- a/epmet-commons/epmet-commons-tools/src/main/java/com/epmet/commons/tools/utils/EpmetRequestHolder.java
+++ b/epmet-commons/epmet-commons-tools/src/main/java/com/epmet/commons/tools/utils/EpmetRequestHolder.java
@@ -46,7 +46,11 @@ public class EpmetRequestHolder {
      * @return
      */
     public static String getHeader(String headerName) {
-        return requestHeaderTtl.get().get(headerName.toLowerCase());
+        Map<String, String> stringStringMap = requestHeaderTtl.get();
+        if (stringStringMap == null){
+            return null;
+        }
+        return stringStringMap.get(headerName.toLowerCase());
     }
 
     /**