diff --git a/app/policies/code_ocean/file_policy.rb b/app/policies/code_ocean/file_policy.rb
index 450b5968..3ea9e2f6 100644
--- a/app/policies/code_ocean/file_policy.rb
+++ b/app/policies/code_ocean/file_policy.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 module CodeOcean
   class FilePolicy < AdminOrAuthorPolicy
     def author?
-      @user == @record.context.author
+      @user == @record.context&.author
     end
 
     def show?