diff --git a/pr_agent/algo/ai_handlers/litellm_ai_handler.py b/pr_agent/algo/ai_handlers/litellm_ai_handler.py
index 77c9842f..4ab5ee34 100644
--- a/pr_agent/algo/ai_handlers/litellm_ai_handler.py
+++ b/pr_agent/algo/ai_handlers/litellm_ai_handler.py
@@ -251,8 +251,10 @@ class LiteLLMAIHandler(BaseAiHandler):
                 get_logger().info(f"\nUser prompt:\n{user}")
 
             #Added support for extra_headers while using litellm to call underlying model, via a api management gateway, would allow for passing custom headers for security and authorization
-            if get_settings().get("LITELLM.EXTRA_HEADERS", None):
-                kwargs["extra_headers"] = json.loads(get_settings().litellm.extra_headers)
+            litellm_extra_headers = json.loads(get_settings().litellm.extra_headers)
+            if not isinstance(litellm_extra_headers, dict):
+                raise ValueError("LITELLM.EXTRA_HEADERS must be a JSON object")
+            kwargs["extra_headers"] = litellm_extra_headers
                 
             response = await acompletion(**kwargs)
         except (openai.APIError, openai.APITimeoutError) as e: