diff --git a/litellm/proxy/auth/handle_jwt.py b/litellm/proxy/auth/handle_jwt.py
index bfad9f0c3c7..86f7d614b95 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/auth/handle_jwt.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/auth/handle_jwt.py
@@ -89,7 +89,9 @@ class JWTHandler:
         self.leeway = leeway
 
     @staticmethod
-    def is_jwt(token: str):
+    def is_jwt(token: Optional[str]):
+        if token is None:
+            return False
         parts = token.split(".")
         return len(parts) == 3