diff --git a/src/speckle_automate/automation_context.py b/src/speckle_automate/automation_context.py
index ff9082fd..d293392b 100644
--- a/src/speckle_automate/automation_context.py
+++ b/src/speckle_automate/automation_context.py
@@ -8,9 +8,11 @@
 from gql import gql
 from specklepy.api import operations
 from specklepy.api.client import SpeckleClient
+from specklepy.core.api.models import Branch
 from specklepy.objects import Base
 from specklepy.transports.memory import MemoryTransport
 from specklepy.transports.server import ServerTransport
+from specklepy.logging.exceptions import SpeckleException
 
 from speckle_automate.schema import (
     AutomateBase,
@@ -118,6 +120,10 @@ def create_new_version_in_project(
                 f" that triggered this automation: {self.automation_run_data.model_id}"
             )
 
+        branch = self._get_model(model_id)
+        if not branch.name:
+            raise ValueError(f"The model {model_id} has no name.")
+
         root_object_id = operations.send(
             root_object,
             [self._server_transport, self._memory_transport],
@@ -131,8 +137,30 @@ def create_new_version_in_project(
             message=version_message,
             source_application="SpeckleAutomate",
         )
+
+        if isinstance(version_id, SpeckleException):
+            raise version_id
+
         self._automation_result.result_versions.append(version_id)
 
+    def _get_model(self, model_id: str) -> Branch:
+        query = gql(
+            """
+            query ProjectModel($projectId: String!, $modelId: String!){
+                project(id: $projectId) {
+                    model(id: $modelId) {
+                        name
+                        id
+                        description
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        """
+        )
+        params = {"projectId": self.automation_run_data.project_id, "modelId": model_id}
+        response = self.speckle_client.httpclient.execute(query, params)
+        return Branch.model_validate(response["project"]["model"])
+
     def report_run_status(self) -> None:
         """Report the current run status to the project of this automation."""
         query = gql(
diff --git a/src/specklepy/api/resources/commit.py b/src/specklepy/api/resources/commit.py
index 0f69bf75..8a0bc6ae 100644
--- a/src/specklepy/api/resources/commit.py
+++ b/src/specklepy/api/resources/commit.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from typing import List, Optional
+from typing import List, Optional, Union
 
 from gql import gql
 
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 from specklepy.logging import metrics
 
 from specklepy.core.api.resources.commit import Resource as CoreResource
+from specklepy.logging.exceptions import SpeckleException
 
 
 class Resource(CoreResource):
@@ -55,8 +56,8 @@ def create(
         branch_name: str = "main",
         message: str = "",
         source_application: str = "python",
-        parents: List[str] = None,
-    ) -> str:
+        parents: Optional[List[str]] = None,
+    ) -> Union[str, SpeckleException]:
         """
         Creates a commit on a branch
 
@@ -76,7 +77,9 @@ def create(
             str -- the id of the created commit
         """
         metrics.track(metrics.SDK, self.account, {"name": "Commit Create"})
-        return super().create(stream_id, object_id, branch_name, message, source_application, parents)
+        return super().create(
+            stream_id, object_id, branch_name, message, source_application, parents
+        )
 
     def update(self, stream_id: str, commit_id: str, message: str) -> bool:
         """
diff --git a/src/specklepy/core/api/resources/commit.py b/src/specklepy/core/api/resources/commit.py
index 0f691515..4a076b1c 100644
--- a/src/specklepy/core/api/resources/commit.py
+++ b/src/specklepy/core/api/resources/commit.py
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
-from typing import List, Optional
+from typing import List, Optional, Union
 
 from gql import gql
 
 from specklepy.core.api.models import Commit
 from specklepy.core.api.resource import ResourceBase
+from specklepy.logging.exceptions import SpeckleException
 
 NAME = "commit"
 
@@ -106,8 +107,8 @@ def create(
         branch_name: str = "main",
         message: str = "",
         source_application: str = "python",
-        parents: List[str] = None,
-    ) -> str:
+        parents: Optional[List[str]] = None,
+    ) -> Union[str, SpeckleException]:
         """
         Creates a commit on a branch