diff --git a/wcs/formdata.py b/wcs/formdata.py
index 85df0856c..7c2fda1ff 100644
--- a/wcs/formdata.py
+++ b/wcs/formdata.py
@@ -168,6 +168,8 @@ class FormData(StorableObject):
 
     def display_workflow_message(self):
         wf_status = self.get_workflow_status()
+        if not wf_status:
+           return ''
         for status in wf_status.items:
             if hasattr(status, 'get_message'):
                 return status.get_message(self)
@@ -209,6 +211,8 @@ class FormData(StorableObject):
 
     def get_workflow_form(self, user):
         wf_status = self.get_workflow_status()
+        if not wf_status:
+           return None
         return wf_status.get_action_form(self, user)
 
     def get_workflow_subdirectories(self):
@@ -289,8 +293,9 @@ class FormData(StorableObject):
 
         if self.formdef.workflow and self.status:
             wf_status = self.get_workflow_status()
-            for item in wf_status.items:
-                d.update(item.get_substitution_variables(self))
+            if wf_status:
+                for item in wf_status.items:
+                    d.update(item.get_substitution_variables(self))
 
         return d