diff --git a/eventsources/sources/awssns/start.go b/eventsources/sources/awssns/start.go
index a2a745a02b..5dcadb9aca 100644
--- a/eventsources/sources/awssns/start.go
+++ b/eventsources/sources/awssns/start.go
@@ -130,6 +130,11 @@ func (router *Router) HandleRoute(writer http.ResponseWriter, request *http.Requ
 		return
 	}
 
+	if notification == nil {
+		common.SendErrorResponse(writer, "bad request, not a valid SNS notification")
+		return
+	}
+
 	// SNS Signature Verification
 	if router.eventSource.ValidateSignature {
 		err = notification.verify()