diff --git a/router.go b/router.go
index 5f87b72..55e93de 100644
--- a/router.go
+++ b/router.go
@@ -149,6 +149,11 @@ func (r *Router) HandleInput(ctx context.Context, sourceId string, payload any)
 				continue
 			}
 
+			if payload == nil {
+				r.logger.Error("no input after processing", "route", routeIndex, "source", sourceId)
+				continue
+			}
+
 			outputErrors := r.HandleOutput(routeContext, routeInstance.Output(), payload)
 			if outputErrors != nil {
 				if routeIOErrors == nil {