diff --git a/mediapipe/tasks/cc/core/BUILD b/mediapipe/tasks/cc/core/BUILD
index 5aa9c9729..95cfdd15e 100644
--- a/mediapipe/tasks/cc/core/BUILD
+++ b/mediapipe/tasks/cc/core/BUILD
@@ -318,6 +318,9 @@ cc_library(
         ":model_resources",
         ":task_runner",
         ":utils",
+        "//mediapipe/framework:calculator_cc_proto",
+        "//mediapipe/framework/port:requires",
+        "//mediapipe/framework/port:status",
         "//mediapipe/tasks/cc:common",
         "//mediapipe/tasks/cc/core/proto:base_options_cc_proto",
         "//mediapipe/tasks/cc/core/proto:external_file_cc_proto",
diff --git a/mediapipe/tasks/cc/core/task_api_factory.h b/mediapipe/tasks/cc/core/task_api_factory.h
index 631696b4c..83c2f3207 100644
--- a/mediapipe/tasks/cc/core/task_api_factory.h
+++ b/mediapipe/tasks/cc/core/task_api_factory.h
@@ -23,7 +23,11 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 #include "absl/status/status.h"
 #include "absl/status/statusor.h"
+#include "absl/strings/match.h"
 #include "absl/strings/str_cat.h"
+#include "mediapipe/framework/calculator.pb.h"
+#include "mediapipe/framework/port/requires.h"
+#include "mediapipe/framework/port/status_macros.h"
 #include "mediapipe/tasks/cc/common.h"
 #include "mediapipe/tasks/cc/core/base_task_api.h"
 #include "mediapipe/tasks/cc/core/model_resources.h"
@@ -54,6 +58,8 @@ class TaskApiFactory {
       std::unique_ptr<tflite::OpResolver> resolver,
       PacketsCallback packets_callback = nullptr) {
     bool found_task_subgraph = false;
+    // This for-loop ensures there's only one subgraph besides
+    // FlowLimiterCalculator.
     for (const auto& node : graph_config.node()) {
       if (node.calculator() == "FlowLimiterCalculator") {
         continue;
@@ -64,13 +70,7 @@ class TaskApiFactory {
             "Task graph config should only contain one task subgraph node.",
             MediaPipeTasksStatus::kInvalidTaskGraphConfigError);
       } else {
-        if (!node.options().HasExtension(Options::ext)) {
-          return CreateStatusWithPayload(
-              absl::StatusCode::kInvalidArgument,
-              absl::StrCat(node.calculator(),
-                           " is missing the required task options field."),
-              MediaPipeTasksStatus::kInvalidTaskGraphConfigError);
-        }
+        MP_RETURN_IF_ERROR(CheckHasValidOptions<Options>(node));
         found_task_subgraph = true;
       }
     }
@@ -80,6 +80,35 @@ class TaskApiFactory {
                                  std::move(packets_callback)));
     return std::make_unique<T>(std::move(runner));
   }
+
+ private:
+  template <typename Options>
+  static absl::Status CheckHasValidOptions(
+      const CalculatorGraphConfig::Node& node) {
+    if constexpr (mediapipe::Requires<Options>(
+                      [](auto&& o) -> decltype(o.ext) {})) {
+      if (node.options().HasExtension(Options::ext)) {
+        return absl::OkStatus();
+      }
+    } else {
+#ifndef MEDIAPIPE_PROTO_LITE
+      for (const auto& option : node.node_options()) {
+        if (absl::StrContains(option.type_url(),
+                              Options::descriptor()->full_name())) {
+          return absl::OkStatus();
+        }
+      }
+#else   // MEDIAPIPE_PROTO_LITE
+      // Skip the check for proto lite, as Options::descriptor() is unavailable.
+      return absl::OkStatus();
+#endif  // MEDIAPIPE_PROTO_LITE
+    }
+    return CreateStatusWithPayload(
+        absl::StatusCode::kInvalidArgument,
+        absl::StrCat(node.calculator(),
+                     " is missing the required task options field."),
+        MediaPipeTasksStatus::kInvalidTaskGraphConfigError);
+  }
 };
 
 }  // namespace core