diff --git a/blocks/section_links/block_section_links.php b/blocks/section_links/block_section_links.php
index 7a2fd4f68f8..cdbad6c7884 100644
--- a/blocks/section_links/block_section_links.php
+++ b/blocks/section_links/block_section_links.php
@@ -48,7 +48,10 @@ class CourseBlock_section_links extends MoodleBlock {
             $inc = 5;
         }
         $courseid = $this->course->id;
-        if ($display = get_field('course_display', 'display', 'course', $courseid, 'userid', $USER->id)) {
+        if (!empty($USER->id)) {
+            $display = get_field('course_display', 'display', 'course', $courseid, 'userid', $USER->id);
+        }
+        if (!empty($display)) {
             $link = "$CFG->wwwroot/course/view.php?id=$courseid&$sectionname=";
         } else {
             $link = '#';