diff --git a/code/ddns-lambda.py b/code/ddns-lambda.py
index 3ab2657..cc153c0 100755
--- a/code/ddns-lambda.py
+++ b/code/ddns-lambda.py
@@ -400,9 +400,11 @@ def lambda_handler(
         LOGGER.info(f"Fetching instance DNS information from dynamodb {lineno()}")
         instance_dns_data = get_item_from_dynamodb_table(
             dynamodb_client, DDBNAME, f'{instance_id}/dns')
-        instance_dns_data_dict = json.loads(instance_dns_data, default=json_serial)
-        LOGGER.info(
-            f"instance dns data: {str(instance_dns_data)} length {len(instance_dns_data_dict)} {lineno()}")
+        LOGGER.info(f"got instance dns data: {instance_dns_data}")
+        if instance_dns_data:
+            instance_dns_data_dict = json.loads(instance_dns_data, default=json_serial)
+            LOGGER.info(
+                f"instance dns data: {str(instance_dns_data)} length {len(instance_dns_data_dict)} {lineno()}")
 
     # Get the instance tags and reorder them because we want a zone created before CNAME
     try: