diff --git a/common/djangoapps/util/db.py b/common/djangoapps/util/db.py
index 585e711bed..5426e5d84e 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/util/db.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/util/db.py
@@ -289,4 +289,4 @@ class NoOpMigrationModules(object):
         return True
 
     def __getitem__(self, item):
-        return "notmigrations"
+        return None