diff --git a/src/braket/circuits/result_type.py b/src/braket/circuits/result_type.py
index 3e9f0dfad..a7ce2436c 100644
--- a/src/braket/circuits/result_type.py
+++ b/src/braket/circuits/result_type.py
@@ -209,32 +209,32 @@ def __init__(
         super().__init__(ascii_symbols)
         self._observable = observable
         self._target = QubitSet(target)
-        if not self._target:
-            if self._observable.qubit_count != 1:
-                raise ValueError(
-                    f"Observable {self._observable} must only operate on 1 qubit for target=None"
-                )
-        elif isinstance(observable, Sum):  # nested target
-            if len(target) != len(observable.summands):
-                raise ValueError(
-                    "Sum observable's target shape must be a nested list where each term's "
-                    "target length is equal to the observable term's qubits count."
-                )
-            self._target = [QubitSet(term_target) for term_target in target]
-            for term_target, obs in zip(self._target, observable.summands):
-                if obs.qubit_count != len(term_target):
+        if self._target:
+            if isinstance(observable, Sum):  # nested target
+                if len(target) != len(observable.summands):
                     raise ValueError(
                         "Sum observable's target shape must be a nested list where each term's "
                         "target length is equal to the observable term's qubits count."
                     )
-        elif self._observable.qubit_count != len(self._target):
-            raise ValueError(
-                f"Observable's qubit count {self._observable.qubit_count} and "
-                f"the size of the target qubit set {self._target} must be equal"
-            )
-        elif self._observable.qubit_count != len(self.ascii_symbols):
+                self._target = [QubitSet(term_target) for term_target in target]
+                for term_target, obs in zip(self._target, observable.summands):
+                    if obs.qubit_count != len(term_target):
+                        raise ValueError(
+                            "Sum observable's target shape must be a nested list where each term's "
+                            "target length is equal to the observable term's qubits count."
+                        )
+            elif self._observable.qubit_count != len(self._target):
+                raise ValueError(
+                    f"Observable's qubit count {self._observable.qubit_count} and "
+                    f"the size of the target qubit set {self._target} must be equal"
+                )
+            elif self._observable.qubit_count != len(self.ascii_symbols):
+                raise ValueError(
+                    "Observable's qubit count and the number of ASCII symbols must be equal"
+                )
+        elif (not self._observable.targets) and self._observable.qubit_count != 1:
             raise ValueError(
-                "Observable's qubit count and the number of ASCII symbols must be equal"
+                f"Observable {self._observable} must only operate on 1 qubit for target=None"
             )
 
     @property
diff --git a/src/braket/circuits/result_types.py b/src/braket/circuits/result_types.py
index f682b9ba1..8af36ab4a 100644
--- a/src/braket/circuits/result_types.py
+++ b/src/braket/circuits/result_types.py
@@ -14,14 +14,12 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import re
-from functools import reduce
 from typing import Union
 
 import braket.ir.jaqcd as ir
 from braket.circuits import circuit
 from braket.circuits.free_parameter import FreeParameter
 from braket.circuits.observable import Observable
-from braket.circuits.observables import Sum
 from braket.circuits.result_type import (
     ObservableParameterResultType,
     ObservableResultType,
@@ -210,11 +208,7 @@ def __init__(
             >>>     parameters=["alpha", "beta"],
             >>> )
         """
-        if isinstance(observable, Sum):
-            target_qubits = reduce(QubitSet.union, map(QubitSet, target), QubitSet())
-        else:
-            target_qubits = QubitSet(target)
-
+        target_qubits = QubitSet(target if target is not None else observable.targets)
         super().__init__(
             ascii_symbols=[f"AdjointGradient({observable.ascii_symbols[0]})"] * len(target_qubits),
             observable=observable,
diff --git a/test/unit_tests/braket/circuits/test_result_types.py b/test/unit_tests/braket/circuits/test_result_types.py
index 5f76eeaf9..422fed7a4 100644
--- a/test/unit_tests/braket/circuits/test_result_types.py
+++ b/test/unit_tests/braket/circuits/test_result_types.py
@@ -272,6 +272,25 @@ def test_ir_result_level(testclass, subroutine_name, irclass, input, ir_input):
             "#pragma braket result adjoint_gradient expectation(hermitian([[1+0im, 0im], "
             "[0im, 1+0im]]) q[0]) all",
         ),
+        (
+            ResultType.AdjointGradient(
+                Observable.H(0) @ Observable.I(1) + 2 * Observable.Z(2),
+                parameters=[FreeParameter("alpha"), "beta", FreeParameter("gamma")],
+            ),
+            OpenQASMSerializationProperties(qubit_reference_type=QubitReferenceType.VIRTUAL),
+            "#pragma braket result adjoint_gradient expectation(h(q[0]) @ i(q[1]) + 2 * z(q[2])) "
+            "alpha, beta, gamma",
+        ),
+        (
+            ResultType.AdjointGradient(
+                Observable.H(0) @ Observable.I(1) + 2 * Observable.Z(2),
+                target=[[3, 4], [5]],
+                parameters=[FreeParameter("alpha"), "beta", FreeParameter("gamma")],
+            ),
+            OpenQASMSerializationProperties(qubit_reference_type=QubitReferenceType.VIRTUAL),
+            "#pragma braket result adjoint_gradient expectation(h(q[3]) @ i(q[4]) + 2 * z(q[5])) "
+            "alpha, beta, gamma",
+        ),
     ],
 )
 def test_result_to_ir_openqasm(result_type, serialization_properties, expected_ir):