diff --git a/cmd/serve/serve.go b/cmd/serve/serve.go
index 1984ac9..be20f85 100644
--- a/cmd/serve/serve.go
+++ b/cmd/serve/serve.go
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ var ServeCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			}
 		}
 
-		if aiProvider.Name == "" {
+		if aiProvider == nil || aiProvider.Name == "" {
 			color.Red("Error: AI provider %s not specified in configuration. Please run k8sgpt auth", backend)
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}