diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_helpers.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_helpers.py
index 2d100f7bf..a9dadcadc 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_helpers.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_helpers.py
@@ -84,6 +84,11 @@ class ViewsHelpers(TestCase):
         request.headers = {"Accept": "Praise"}
         self.assertFalse(views.helpers.is_api_request(request))
 
+    def test_is_api_request_no_headers(self, _):
+        """ should it return html or json """
+        request = self.factory.get("/path")
+        self.assertFalse(views.helpers.is_api_request(request))
+
     def test_is_bookwyrm_request(self, _):
         """ checks if a request came from a bookwyrm instance """
         request = self.factory.get("", {"q": "Test Book"})
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py b/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
index 52b5818f3..006c6494e 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ def get_user_from_username(viewer, username):
 
 def is_api_request(request):
     """ check whether a request is asking for html or data """
-    return "json" in request.headers.get("Accept") or request.path[-5:] == ".json"
+    return "json" in request.headers.get("Accept", "") or request.path[-5:] == ".json"
 
 
 def is_bookwyrm_request(request):