diff --git a/ee/api/chalicelib/utils/SAML2_helper.py b/ee/api/chalicelib/utils/SAML2_helper.py
index 765c8639e..e2cd9584f 100644
--- a/ee/api/chalicelib/utils/SAML2_helper.py
+++ b/ee/api/chalicelib/utils/SAML2_helper.py
@@ -85,7 +85,10 @@ async def prepare_request(request: Request):
         extracted_cookies = {}
         for key, morsel in cookie.items():
             extracted_cookies[key] = morsel.value
-        session = extracted_cookies["session"]
+        if "session" not in extracted_cookies:
+            print("!!! session not found in extracted_cookies")
+            print(extracted_cookies)
+        session = extracted_cookies.get("session", {})
     else:
         session = {}
     # If server is behind proxys or balancers use the HTTP_X_FORWARDED fields