diff --git a/src/Codebelt.Extensions.Carter/Response/ConfigurableResponseNegotiator.cs b/src/Codebelt.Extensions.Carter/Response/ConfigurableResponseNegotiator.cs
index eecd1c6..af32800 100644
--- a/src/Codebelt.Extensions.Carter/Response/ConfigurableResponseNegotiator.cs
+++ b/src/Codebelt.Extensions.Carter/Response/ConfigurableResponseNegotiator.cs
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ public virtual bool CanHandle(MediaTypeHeaderValue accept)
     public virtual Encoding GetEncoding(HttpRequest request)
     {
         var acceptCharset = request.GetTypedHeaders().AcceptCharset;
-        if (acceptCharset.Count > 0)
+        if (acceptCharset?.Count > 0)
         {
             var preferred = acceptCharset
                 .OrderByDescending(x => x.Quality ?? 1.0)