diff --git a/libipmid/utils.cpp b/libipmid/utils.cpp
index f8e8083..7468cf8 100644
--- a/libipmid/utils.cpp
+++ b/libipmid/utils.cpp
@@ -170,6 +170,11 @@
         cachedBusName = bus.get_unique_name();
         cachedService = ::ipmi::getService(bus, intf, path);
     }
+
+    if (!cachedService)
+    {
+        throw std::runtime_error("Service not cached");
+    }
     return cachedService.value();
 }