diff --git a/cosmos/x/evm/keeper/keeper.go b/cosmos/x/evm/keeper/keeper.go
index 56ac9808e..074246c5e 100644
--- a/cosmos/x/evm/keeper/keeper.go
+++ b/cosmos/x/evm/keeper/keeper.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func (k *Keeper) Setup(
 
 	// Build the Polaris EVM Provider
 	cfg, err := polar.LoadConfigFromFilePath(polarisConfigPath)
-	if err != nil {
+	if cfg == nil || err != nil {
 		logger.Error("failed to load config", "falling back to defaults")
 		cfg = polar.DefaultConfig()
 	}