diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/learner_dashboard/api/v0/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/learner_dashboard/api/v0/views.py
index 69a972d829..b3f43eaf83 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/learner_dashboard/api/v0/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/learner_dashboard/api/v0/views.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """ API v0 views. """
 
 from edx_rest_framework_extensions.auth.jwt.authentication import JwtAuthentication
+from edx_rest_framework_extensions.auth.session.authentication import SessionAuthenticationAllowInactiveUser
 from enterprise.models import EnterpriseCourseEnrollment
 from rest_framework.authentication import SessionAuthentication
 from rest_framework.permissions import IsAuthenticated
@@ -347,7 +348,7 @@ class CourseRecommendationApiView(APIView):
     GET api/dashboard/v0/recommendation/courses/
     """
 
-    authentication_classes = (JwtAuthentication, SessionAuthentication,)
+    authentication_classes = (JwtAuthentication, SessionAuthenticationAllowInactiveUser,)
     permission_classes = (IsAuthenticated,)
 
     def get(self, request):
@@ -379,4 +380,5 @@ class CourseRecommendationApiView(APIView):
                 })
             else:
                 return Response(status=400)
+
         return Response({'courses': recommended_courses, 'is_personalized_recommendation': not is_control}, status=200)
diff --git a/lms/static/js/learner_dashboard/RecommendationsPanel.jsx b/lms/static/js/learner_dashboard/RecommendationsPanel.jsx
index a8f1739be9..dc9133bfb2 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/learner_dashboard/RecommendationsPanel.jsx
+++ b/lms/static/js/learner_dashboard/RecommendationsPanel.jsx
@@ -37,13 +37,15 @@ class RecommendationsPanel extends React.Component {
   getCourseList = async () => {
     const coursesRecommendationData = await fetch(`${this.props.lmsRootUrl}/api/dashboard/v0/recommendation/courses/`)
       .then(response => {
-          if (response.status === 400) {
-            return this.props.generalRecommendations;
-          } else {
-            return response.json();
-          }
+        if (response.status === 400) {
+          return this.props.generalRecommendations;
+        } else {
+          return response.json();
         }
-      );
+      }).catch(() => {
+        return this.props.generalRecommendations;
+      });
+
     this.setState({
       coursesList: coursesRecommendationData['courses'],
       isPersonalizedRecommendation: coursesRecommendationData['is_personalized_recommendation']