diff --git a/theme/boost/tests/behat/behat_theme_boost_behat_course.php b/theme/boost/tests/behat/behat_theme_boost_behat_course.php
index 64a7c597549..6906b669ea4 100644
--- a/theme/boost/tests/behat/behat_theme_boost_behat_course.php
+++ b/theme/boost/tests/behat/behat_theme_boost_behat_course.php
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ class behat_theme_boost_behat_course extends behat_course {
 
         // Find the menu.
         $menunode = $activitynode->find('css', 'a[data-toggle=dropdown]');
+        if (!$menunode) {
+            throw new ExpectationException(sprintf('Could not find actions menu for the activity "%s"', $activityname),
+                    $this->getSession());
+        }
         $expanded = $menunode->getAttribute('aria-expanded');
         if ($expanded == 'true') {
             return;
@@ -71,6 +75,10 @@ class behat_theme_boost_behat_course extends behat_course {
         $activitynode = $this->get_activity_node($activityname);
         // Find the menu.
         $menunode = $activitynode->find('css', 'a[data-toggle=dropdown]');
+        if (!$menunode) {
+            throw new ExpectationException(sprintf('Could not find actions menu for the activity "%s"', $activityname),
+                    $this->getSession());
+        }
         $expanded = $menunode->getAttribute('aria-expanded');
         if ($expanded != 'true') {
             return;
@@ -90,6 +98,10 @@ class behat_theme_boost_behat_course extends behat_course {
         $activitynode = $this->get_activity_node($activityname);
         // Find the menu.
         $menunode = $activitynode->find('css', 'a[data-toggle=dropdown]');
+        if (!$menunode) {
+            throw new ExpectationException(sprintf('Could not find actions menu for the activity "%s"', $activityname),
+                    $this->getSession());
+        }
         $expanded = $menunode->getAttribute('aria-expanded');
         if ($expanded != 'true') {
             throw new ExpectationException(sprintf("The action menu for '%s' is not open", $activityname), $this->getSession());