diff --git a/functions/submit_order/handler.py b/functions/submit_order/handler.py
index c39efff..174dc00 100644
--- a/functions/submit_order/handler.py
+++ b/functions/submit_order/handler.py
@@ -65,7 +65,14 @@ def _get_discount_settings() -> tuple[Decimal, Decimal]:
 
 
 def _google_auth_configured() -> bool:
-    return bool(os.environ.get("GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID_PARAM", ""))
+    return bool(_get_google_client_id())
+
+
+def _is_parameter_not_found(exc: Exception) -> bool:
+    response_data = getattr(exc, "response", {})
+    if not isinstance(response_data, dict):
+        return False
+    return response_data.get("Error", {}).get("Code") == "ParameterNotFound"
 
 
 def _official_menu_retail_by_name(week: str) -> dict[str, Decimal]:
@@ -87,7 +94,12 @@ def _get_google_client_id() -> str:
     if _google_client_id is None or (now - _google_client_id_ts) > CACHE_TTL_SECONDS:
         param = os.environ.get("GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID_PARAM", "")
         if param:
-            _google_client_id = get_parameter(param, decrypt=False) or ""
+            try:
+                _google_client_id = get_parameter(param, decrypt=False) or ""
+            except Exception as exc:
+                if not _is_parameter_not_found(exc):
+                    raise
+                _google_client_id = ""
         else:
             _google_client_id = ""
         _google_client_id_ts = now
@@ -187,12 +199,20 @@ def handle_submit(event):
         return response(400, {"error": "Invalid JSON"})
 
     # --- Authentication ---
-    # If Google auth is configured (SSM param name is set), require a valid
-    # google_id_token.  Manual fallback is only allowed when auth is NOT configured.
-    # If SSM fetch fails, fail closed (503) rather than silently disabling auth.
+    # If Google auth is configured (SSM param contains a client ID), require a valid
+    # google_id_token. Manual fallback is only allowed when auth is NOT configured.
+    # If SSM fetch fails for any other reason, fail closed (503).
     google_token = body.get("google_id_token")
 
-    if _google_auth_configured():
+    try:
+        google_auth_configured = _google_auth_configured()
+    except Exception as exc:
+        logger.error("SSM fetch failed for Google client ID: %s", exc)
+        return response(
+            503, {"error": "Authentication service temporarily unavailable"}
+        )
+
+    if google_auth_configured:
         try:
             client_id = _get_google_client_id()
         except Exception as exc:
diff --git a/tests/test_submit_order.py b/tests/test_submit_order.py
index 1998842..d874d20 100644
--- a/tests/test_submit_order.py
+++ b/tests/test_submit_order.py
@@ -409,6 +409,51 @@ def test_total_summation_multiple_items(
 # ===========================================================================
 
 
+@patch("submit_order_handler._lambda")
+@patch("submit_order_handler.put_order")
+@patch("submit_order_handler.get_form_status", return_value="open")
+@patch("submit_order_handler.current_week", return_value="2026-W20")
+@patch(
+    "submit_order_handler.get_settings",
+    return_value={"bulk_discount_percent": 0, "company_subsidy_percent": 0},
+)
+@patch("submit_order_handler.get_secret", return_value=TEST_API_KEY)
+@patch("submit_order_handler.get_parameter")
+@patch("submit_order_handler.get_menu")
+def test_missing_google_client_id_param_allows_manual_submission(
+    mock_get_menu,
+    mock_get_parameter,
+    mock_secret,
+    mock_settings,
+    mock_week,
+    mock_status,
+    mock_put,
+    mock_lam,
+):
+    """Missing Google client ID SSM parameter means auth is not configured."""
+    from submit_order_handler import lambda_handler
+
+    class ParameterNotFoundError(Exception):
+        response = {"Error": {"Code": "ParameterNotFound"}}
+
+    items = _make_items([(10.00, 1)])
+    mock_get_menu.return_value = _menu_doc_from_retail_pairs([(10.00, 1)])
+    mock_get_parameter.side_effect = ParameterNotFoundError("ParameterNotFound")
+
+    with patch.dict(
+        os.environ,
+        {"GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID_PARAM": "/meal-order-manager/google-client-id"},
+    ):
+        result = lambda_handler(_submit_event(items), None)
+
+    status, body = _parse_response(result)
+
+    assert status == 200, f"Expected 200, got {status}: {body}"
+    saved_order = mock_put.call_args[0][2]
+    assert saved_order["employee_name"] == "Test User"
+    assert saved_order["employee_email"] == "test.user@seahavenind.com"
+
+
 @patch("submit_order_handler._lambda")
 @patch("submit_order_handler.put_order")
 @patch("submit_order_handler.get_form_status", return_value="open")