diff --git a/common/djangoapps/embargo/middleware.py b/common/djangoapps/embargo/middleware.py
index fe1727da17..e7c199cc6e 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/embargo/middleware.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/embargo/middleware.py
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ class EmbargoMiddleware(object):
         profile_country = cache.get(cache_key)
         if profile_country is None:
             profile = getattr(user, 'profile', None)
-            if profile is not None:
+            if profile is not None and profile.country is not None:
                 profile_country = profile.country.code.upper()
             else:
                 profile_country = ""
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/embargo/tests/test_middleware.py b/common/djangoapps/embargo/tests/test_middleware.py
index eaf97b2eb3..5e1a908b8a 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/embargo/tests/test_middleware.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/embargo/tests/test_middleware.py
@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ class EmbargoMiddlewareTests(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
 
     @ddt.data(
+        (None, False),
         ("", False),
         ("us", False),
         ("CU", True),