diff --git a/extensions/openpower-pels/src.cpp b/extensions/openpower-pels/src.cpp
index 919c411..6833441 100644
--- a/extensions/openpower-pels/src.cpp
+++ b/extensions/openpower-pels/src.cpp
@@ -196,6 +196,12 @@
             {
                 std::unique_ptr<PyObject, decltype(&pyDecRef)> resPtr(
                     pResult, &pyDecRef);
+
+                if (pResult == Py_None)
+                {
+                    return std::nullopt;
+                }
+
                 PyObject* pBytes =
                     PyUnicode_AsEncodedString(pResult, "utf-8", "~E~");
                 std::unique_ptr<PyObject, decltype(&pyDecRef)> pyBytePtr(