diff --git a/proto/authzed/api/v1/00_handwritten_validation.go b/proto/authzed/api/v1/00_handwritten_validation.go
index 211a53b..720e601 100644
--- a/proto/authzed/api/v1/00_handwritten_validation.go
+++ b/proto/authzed/api/v1/00_handwritten_validation.go
@@ -3,20 +3,25 @@
 package v1
 
 func (m *CheckPermissionRequest) HandwrittenValidate() error {
+	if m == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	if m.GetResource() != nil && m.GetResource().GetObjectId() == "*" {
 		return ObjectReferenceValidationError{
 			field:  "ObjectId",
 			reason: "alphanumeric value is required",
 		}
 	}
-	if m.GetSubject() != nil {
-		return m.GetSubject().HandwrittenValidate()
-	}
 
-	return nil
+	return m.GetSubject().HandwrittenValidate()
 }
 
 func (m *ExpandPermissionTreeRequest) HandwrittenValidate() error {
+	if m == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	if m.GetResource() != nil && m.GetResource().GetObjectId() == "*" {
 		return ObjectReferenceValidationError{
 			field:  "ObjectId",
@@ -28,27 +33,33 @@ func (m *ExpandPermissionTreeRequest) HandwrittenValidate() error {
 }
 
 func (m *Precondition) HandwrittenValidate() error {
-	if m.GetFilter() != nil {
-		return m.GetFilter().HandwrittenValidate()
+	if m == nil {
+		return nil
 	}
 
-	return nil
+	return m.GetFilter().HandwrittenValidate()
 }
 
 func (m *RelationshipFilter) HandwrittenValidate() error {
+	if m == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	if m.GetOptionalResourceId() == "*" {
 		return RelationshipFilterValidationError{
 			field:  "OptionalResourceId",
 			reason: "alphanumeric value is required",
 		}
 	}
-	if m.GetOptionalSubjectFilter() != nil {
-		return m.GetOptionalSubjectFilter().HandwrittenValidate()
-	}
-	return nil
+
+	return m.GetOptionalSubjectFilter().HandwrittenValidate()
 }
 
 func (m *SubjectFilter) HandwrittenValidate() error {
+	if m == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	if m.GetOptionalSubjectId() == "*" && m.GetOptionalRelation() != nil && m.GetOptionalRelation().GetRelation() != "" {
 		return SubjectFilterValidationError{
 			field:  "OptionalRelation",
@@ -59,10 +70,7 @@ func (m *SubjectFilter) HandwrittenValidate() error {
 }
 
 func (m *RelationshipUpdate) HandwrittenValidate() error {
-	if m.GetRelationship() != nil {
-		return m.GetRelationship().HandwrittenValidate()
-	}
-	return nil
+	return m.GetRelationship().HandwrittenValidate()
 }
 
 func (m *SubjectReference) HandwrittenValidate() error {
@@ -76,6 +84,10 @@ func (m *SubjectReference) HandwrittenValidate() error {
 }
 
 func (m *Relationship) HandwrittenValidate() error {
+	if m == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	if m.GetResource() != nil && m.GetResource().GetObjectId() == "*" {
 		return ObjectReferenceValidationError{
 			field:  "ObjectId",
@@ -83,14 +95,14 @@ func (m *Relationship) HandwrittenValidate() error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if m.GetSubject() != nil {
-		return m.GetSubject().HandwrittenValidate()
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return m.GetSubject().HandwrittenValidate()
 }
 
 func (m *DeleteRelationshipsRequest) HandwrittenValidate() error {
+	if m == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	if m.GetOptionalPreconditions() != nil {
 		for _, precondition := range m.GetOptionalPreconditions() {
 			err := precondition.HandwrittenValidate()
@@ -100,14 +112,14 @@ func (m *DeleteRelationshipsRequest) HandwrittenValidate() error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if m.GetRelationshipFilter() != nil {
-		return m.GetRelationshipFilter().HandwrittenValidate()
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return m.GetRelationshipFilter().HandwrittenValidate()
 }
 
 func (m *WriteRelationshipsRequest) HandwrittenValidate() error {
+	if m == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	if m.GetOptionalPreconditions() != nil {
 		for _, precondition := range m.GetOptionalPreconditions() {
 			err := precondition.HandwrittenValidate()