diff --git a/impl/src/main/java/com/sun/faces/util/Util.java b/impl/src/main/java/com/sun/faces/util/Util.java
index 5289d39f71..ca481492aa 100644
--- a/impl/src/main/java/com/sun/faces/util/Util.java
+++ b/impl/src/main/java/com/sun/faces/util/Util.java
@@ -1677,7 +1677,9 @@ public static String getResponseEncoding(FacesContext context, Optional<String>
 
         if (encoding == null) {
             // 5. If still none found then fall back to specified default.
-            encoding = defaultEncoding.get();
+            if (defaultEncoding.isPresent()) {
+                encoding = defaultEncoding.get();
+            }
 
             if (encoding != null && !encoding.isBlank()) {
                 if (LOGGER.isLoggable(FINEST)) {