diff --git a/redaction-report-service-v1/redaction-report-service-server-v1/src/main/java/com/iqser/red/service/redaction/report/v1/server/service/WordReportGenerationService.java b/redaction-report-service-v1/redaction-report-service-server-v1/src/main/java/com/iqser/red/service/redaction/report/v1/server/service/WordReportGenerationService.java
index c024975..d33c318 100644
--- a/redaction-report-service-v1/redaction-report-service-server-v1/src/main/java/com/iqser/red/service/redaction/report/v1/server/service/WordReportGenerationService.java
+++ b/redaction-report-service-v1/redaction-report-service-server-v1/src/main/java/com/iqser/red/service/redaction/report/v1/server/service/WordReportGenerationService.java
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ public class WordReportGenerationService {
                 var search = entry.getKey();
                 var replace = entry.getValue();
 
-                if (paragraphText.contains(search)) {
+                if (replace != null && paragraphText.contains(search)) {
                     isIuclid = search.equals(IUCLID_FUNCTION_PLACEHOLDER);
                     String escapedSearch = Pattern.quote(search);
                     String escapedReplace = Matcher.quoteReplacement(replace);