diff --git a/app/policies/synapse_policy.rb b/app/policies/synapse_policy.rb
index e3190c18..ae0796cd 100644
--- a/app/policies/synapse_policy.rb
+++ b/app/policies/synapse_policy.rb
@@ -48,13 +48,13 @@ class SynapsePolicy < ApplicationPolicy
   end
 
   def topic1_show?
-    @topic1_policy ||= Pundit.policy(user, record.topic1)
-    @topic1_policy&.show?
+    @topic1_policy ||= Pundit.policy(user, record&.topic1)
+    @topic1_policy&.show? != false
   end
 
   def topic2_show?
-    @topic2_policy ||= Pundit.policy(user, record.topic2)
-    @topic2_policy&.show?
+    @topic2_policy ||= Pundit.policy(user, record&.topic2)
+    @topic2_policy&.show? != false
   end
 
   def synapse_show?