diff --git a/apps/api/src/services/commerce.ts b/apps/api/src/services/commerce.ts
index 27f39b0..3d155f9 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/services/commerce.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/services/commerce.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,11 @@ class ApparelOrdersService {
                     processor: async (payload) => {
                         const wOrder = payload.wOrder as Webflow.Orders.Order;
 
+                        const stateCode = zipcodesUs.find(
+                            wOrder.shippingAddress.postalCode.split("-")[0] ?? "",
+                        ).stateCode;
+                        if (!stateCode) throw new Error("Unrecognized state code");
+
                         // creates a DRAFT order
                         await this.Printful.Orders.create({
                             external_id: wOrder.orderId,
@@ -71,9 +76,7 @@ class ApparelOrdersService {
                                 address1: wOrder.shippingAddress.line1,
                                 address2: wOrder.shippingAddress.line2,
                                 city: wOrder.shippingAddress.city,
-                                state_code: zipcodesUs.find(
-                                    wOrder.shippingAddress.postalCode.split("-")[0] ?? "",
-                                ).stateCode,
+                                state_code: stateCode,
                                 country_code: wOrder.shippingAddress.country,
                                 zip: wOrder.shippingAddress.postalCode,
                             },