diff --git a/backend/src/services/platformAuthService.ts b/backend/src/services/platformAuthService.ts
index a273881..08529fd 100644
--- a/backend/src/services/platformAuthService.ts
+++ b/backend/src/services/platformAuthService.ts
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ export async function verifyTradingAccessToken(token: string): Promise<VerifiedT
     if (jwtUtils) {
         try {
             const payload = await jwtUtils.verifyToken(token);
+            if (!payload) {
+                throw new Error('Platform token verification returned null payload');
+            }
             const productId = String(payload?.productId || '').trim();
             if (!payload?.sub) {
                 return { userId: null, source: null, error: 'Platform token missing subject claim' };