diff --git a/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt b/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
index 4a45003e0..f4e54623d 100644
--- a/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 7.10.20
+ - fixed: Do not call group methods on an undefined value.
 
 7.10.19
  - fixed #12169: extras uploads symlink export
diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/User.pm b/lib/WebGUI/User.pm
index 1447dfab8..09a7820e3 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/User.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/User.pm
@@ -684,8 +684,9 @@ sub getGroupIdsRecursive {
     my $self        = shift;
     my $groupingIds = $self->getGroups( "withoutExpired" );
     my %groupIds    = map { $_ => 1 } @{ $groupingIds };
-    while ( my $groupingId = shift @{ $groupingIds } ) {
+    GROUPINGID: while ( my $groupingId = shift @{ $groupingIds } ) {
         my $group   = WebGUI::Group->new( $self->session, $groupingId );
+        next GROUPINGID unless $group;
         for my $groupGroupingId ( @{ $group->getGroupsFor } ) { 
             if ( !$groupIds{ $groupGroupingId } ) {
                 push @{ $groupingIds }, $groupGroupingId;