diff --git a/app/models/project.rb b/app/models/project.rb
index 81ec37d10..0502ffca1 100644
--- a/app/models/project.rb
+++ b/app/models/project.rb
@@ -842,7 +842,7 @@ class Project < ActiveRecord::Base
           if user.admin?
             true
           else
-            default_member_role.has_permission?(:select_project_modules)
+            default_member_role&.has_permission?(:select_project_modules)
           end
         else
           user.allowed_to?(:select_project_modules, project)