diff --git a/lib/Service/SignFileService.php b/lib/Service/SignFileService.php
index 4577ae15c2..eea81914a0 100644
--- a/lib/Service/SignFileService.php
+++ b/lib/Service/SignFileService.php
@@ -587,6 +587,9 @@ private function getPdfToSign(FileEntity $fileData, File $originalFile): File {
 				$pdf->addFile($dest);
 				$buffer = $pdf->stamp($background)
 					->toString();
+				if (!is_string($buffer)) {
+					throw new LibresignException('Failed to merge the PDF with the footer. The PDF was not successfully created with the footer.');
+				}
 			} else {
 				$buffer = $originalFile->getContent();
 			}