diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tabs.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tabs.py
index 18d6612cc6..eac059afff 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tabs.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tabs.py
@@ -112,27 +112,29 @@ def _staff_grading(tab, user, course, active_page):
     return []
 
 def _peer_grading(tab, user, course, active_page):
-    link = reverse('peer_grading', args=[course.id])
-    peer_gs = PeerGradingService(settings.PEER_GRADING_INTERFACE)
-    pending_grading=False
-    tab_name = "Peer grading"
-    img_path= ""
-    try:
-        notifications = json.loads(peer_gs.get_notifications(course.id,unique_id_for_user(user)))
-        log.debug(notifications)
+    if user.is_authenticated():
+        link = reverse('peer_grading', args=[course.id])
+        peer_gs = PeerGradingService(settings.PEER_GRADING_INTERFACE)
+        pending_grading=False
+        tab_name = "Peer grading"
+        img_path= ""
+        try:
+            notifications = json.loads(peer_gs.get_notifications(course.id,unique_id_for_user(user)))
+            log.debug(notifications)
 
-        if notifications['success']:
-            if notifications['student_needs_to_peer_grade']:
-                pending_grading=True
-    except:
-        #Non catastrophic error, so no real action
-        log.info("Problem with getting notifications from peer grading service.")
+            if notifications['success']:
+                if notifications['student_needs_to_peer_grade']:
+                    pending_grading=True
+        except:
+            #Non catastrophic error, so no real action
+            log.info("Problem with getting notifications from peer grading service.")
 
-    if pending_grading:
-        img_path = "/static/images/slider-handle.png"
+        if pending_grading:
+            img_path = "/static/images/slider-handle.png"
 
-    tab = [CourseTab(tab_name, link, active_page == "peer_grading", True, img_path)]
-    return tab
+        tab = [CourseTab(tab_name, link, active_page == "peer_grading", pending_grading, img_path)]
+        return tab
+    return []
 
 #### Validators