diff --git a/osf/models/collection_submission.py b/osf/models/collection_submission.py
index b06b186df8d..d342def9cbc 100644
--- a/osf/models/collection_submission.py
+++ b/osf/models/collection_submission.py
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ def _notify_moderated_rejected(self, event_data):
             )
 
     def _validate_remove(self, event_data):
-        user = event_data.kwargs['user']
+        user = event_data.kwargs.get('user')
         force = event_data.kwargs.get('force')
         if force:
             return