diff --git a/app/services/iiif_print/derivative_rodeo_service.rb b/app/services/iiif_print/derivative_rodeo_service.rb
index 093982ff..f38fed08 100644
--- a/app/services/iiif_print/derivative_rodeo_service.rb
+++ b/app/services/iiif_print/derivative_rodeo_service.rb
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ def named_derivatives_and_generators
     # @param adapter_name [String] Added as a parameter to make testing just a bit easier.  See
     #        {.preprocessed_location_adapter_name}
     #
-    # @return [String]
+    # @return [String] when we have a possible candidate.
+    # @return [NilClass] when we could not derive a candidate.
     # rubocop:disable Metrics/MethodLength
     def self.derivative_rodeo_uri(file_set:, filename: nil, extension: nil, adapter_name: preprocessed_location_adapter_name)
       # TODO: This is a hack that knows about the inner workings of Hydra::Works, but for
@@ -91,6 +92,7 @@ def self.derivative_rodeo_uri(file_set:, filename: nil, extension: nil, adapter_
       filename ||= Hydra::Works::DetermineOriginalName.call(file_set.original_file)
 
       dirname = derivative_rodeo_preprocessed_directory_for(file_set: file_set, filename: filename)
+      return nil unless dirname
 
       # The aforementioned filename and the following basename and extension are here to allow for
       # us to take an original file and see if we've pre-processed the derivative file.  In the
@@ -141,6 +143,7 @@ def self.get_ancestor(filename: nil, file_set:)
     # @param file_set [FileSet]
     # @param filename [String]
     # @return [String] the dirname (without any "/" we hope)
+    # @return [NilClass] when we cannot infer a URI from the object.
     def self.derivative_rodeo_preprocessed_directory_for(file_set:, filename:)
       ancestor, ancestor_type = get_ancestor(filename: filename, file_set: file_set)
 
@@ -152,16 +155,19 @@ def self.derivative_rodeo_preprocessed_directory_for(file_set:, filename:)
         message = "#{self.class}.#{__method__} #{file_set.class} ID=#{file_set.id} and filename: #{filename.inspect}" \
                   "has #{ancestor_type} of #{ancestor.class} ID=#{ancestor.id}"
         Rails.logger.info(message)
-        ancestor.public_send(parent_work_identifier_property_name) ||
-          raise("Expected #{ancestor.class} ID=#{ancestor.id} (#{ancestor_type} of #{file_set.class} ID=#{file_set.id}) " \
-                "to have a present #{parent_work_identifier_property_name.inspect}")
+        parent_work_identifier = ancestor.public_send(parent_work_identifier_property_name)
+        return parent_work_identifier if parent_work_identifier.present?
+        Rails.logger.warn("Expected #{ancestor.class} ID=#{ancestor.id} (#{ancestor_type} of #{file_set.class} ID=#{file_set.id}) " \
+                          "to have a present #{parent_work_identifier_property_name.inspect}")
+        nil
       else
         # HACK: This makes critical assumptions about how we're creating the title for the file_set;
         # but we don't have much to fall-back on.  Consider making this a configurable function.  Or
         # perhaps this entire method should be more configurable.
         # TODO: Revisit this implementation.
-        file_set.title.first.split(".").first ||
-          raise("#{file_set.class} ID=#{file_set.id} has title #{file_set.title.first} from which we cannot infer information.")
+        candidate = file_set.title.first.split(".").first
+        return candidate if candidate.present?
+        nil
       end
       # rubocop:enable Style/GuardClause
     end
diff --git a/lib/iiif_print/split_pdfs/derivative_rodeo_splitter.rb b/lib/iiif_print/split_pdfs/derivative_rodeo_splitter.rb
index 286ed315..a33954bc 100644
--- a/lib/iiif_print/split_pdfs/derivative_rodeo_splitter.rb
+++ b/lib/iiif_print/split_pdfs/derivative_rodeo_splitter.rb
@@ -84,7 +84,13 @@ def preprocessed_location_template
         derivative_rodeo_candidate = IiifPrint::DerivativeRodeoService.derivative_rodeo_uri(file_set: file_set, filename: filename)
 
         @preprocessed_location_template =
-          if rodeo_conformant_uri_exists?(derivative_rodeo_candidate)
+          if derivative_rodeo_candidate.blank?
+            message = "#{self.class}##{__method__} could not establish derivative_rodeo_candidate for " \
+                      "#{file_set.class} ID=#{file_set&.id} #to_param=#{file_set&.to_param} with filename #{filename.inspect}.  " \
+                      "Move along little buddy."
+            Rails.logger.debug(message)
+            nil
+          elsif rodeo_conformant_uri_exists?(derivative_rodeo_candidate)
             Rails.logger.debug("#{self.class}##{__method__} found existing file at location #{derivative_rodeo_candidate}.  High five partner!")
             derivative_rodeo_candidate
           elsif file_set.import_url
@@ -94,7 +100,8 @@ def preprocessed_location_template
             handle_original_file_not_in_derivative_rodeo
           else
             message = "#{self.class}##{__method__} could not find an existing file at #{derivative_rodeo_candidate} " \
-                      "nor a remote_url for #{file_set.class} ID=#{file_set.id}.  Returning `nil' as we have no possible preprocess.  " \
+                      "nor a remote_url for #{file_set.class} ID=#{file_set.id} #to_param=#{file_set&.to_param}.  " \
+                      "Returning `nil' as we have no possible preprocess.  " \
                       "Maybe the input_uri #{input_uri.inspect} will be adequate."
             Rails.logger.warn(message)
             nil
@@ -146,7 +153,7 @@ def split_files
       rescue => e
         message = "#{self.class}##{__method__} encountered `#{e.class}' “#{e}” for " \
                   "input_uri: #{input_uri.inspect}, " \
-                  "output_location_template: #{output_location_template.inspect}, and" \
+                  "output_location_template: #{output_location_template.inspect}, and " \
                   "preprocessed_location_template: #{preprocessed_location_template.inspect}."
         exception = RuntimeError.new(message)
         exception.set_backtrace(e.backtrace)