diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index 062bc473635..3de3020d17e 100644
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ class User < ActiveRecord::Base
   end
 
   def read_first_notification?
-    notifications.order(created_at: :asc).first.read
+    notifications.order(created_at: :asc).first&.read || false
   end
 
   def publish_notifications_state
diff --git a/spec/models/user_spec.rb b/spec/models/user_spec.rb
index 8e8218110cc..cddc4b50a89 100644
--- a/spec/models/user_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/user_spec.rb
@@ -1336,5 +1336,11 @@ describe User do
         expect(user.read_first_notification?).to eq(true)
       end
     end
+
+    describe 'when user does not have any notifications' do
+      it 'should return the right value' do
+        expect(user.read_first_notification?).to eq(false)
+      end
+    end
   end
 end