diff --git a/modules/articles/client/views/list-articles.client.view.html b/modules/articles/client/views/list-articles.client.view.html
index 488a4d59..cd6ab945 100644
--- a/modules/articles/client/views/list-articles.client.view.html
+++ b/modules/articles/client/views/list-articles.client.view.html
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ <h1>Articles</h1>
         Posted on
         <span ng-bind="article.created | date:'mediumDate'"></span>
         by
-        <span ng-bind="article.user.displayName"></span>
+        <span ng-if="article.user" ng-bind="article.user.displayName"></span>
+        <span ng-if="!article.user">Deleted User</span>
       </small>
       <h4 class="list-group-item-heading" ng-bind="article.title"></h4>
       <p class="list-group-item-text" ng-bind="article.content"></p>
diff --git a/modules/articles/client/views/view-article.client.view.html b/modules/articles/client/views/view-article.client.view.html
index 2ecbb2f4..f70d6307 100644
--- a/modules/articles/client/views/view-article.client.view.html
+++ b/modules/articles/client/views/view-article.client.view.html
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ <h1 ng-bind="article.title"></h1>
       Posted on
       <span ng-bind="article.created | date:'mediumDate'"></span>
       by
-      <span ng-bind="article.user.displayName"></span>
+      <span ng-if="article.user" ng-bind="article.user.displayName"></span>
+      <span ng-if="!article.user">Deleted User</span>
     </em>
   </small>
   <p class="lead" ng-bind="article.content"></p>
diff --git a/modules/articles/server/policies/articles.server.policy.js b/modules/articles/server/policies/articles.server.policy.js
index 536f8bcc..279277ee 100644
--- a/modules/articles/server/policies/articles.server.policy.js
+++ b/modules/articles/server/policies/articles.server.policy.js
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ exports.isAllowed = function (req, res, next) {
   var roles = (req.user) ? req.user.roles : ['guest'];
 
   // If an article is being processed and the current user created it then allow any manipulation
-  if (req.article && req.user && req.article.user.id === req.user.id) {
+  if (req.article && req.user && req.article.user && req.article.user.id === req.user.id) {
     return next();
   }
 
diff --git a/modules/articles/tests/server/article.server.routes.tests.js b/modules/articles/tests/server/article.server.routes.tests.js
index 572d626f..05208b2f 100644
--- a/modules/articles/tests/server/article.server.routes.tests.js
+++ b/modules/articles/tests/server/article.server.routes.tests.js
@@ -313,6 +313,93 @@ describe('Article CRUD tests', function () {
     });
   });
 
+  it('should be able to get a single article that has an orphaned user reference', function (done) {
+    // Create orphan user creds
+    var _creds = {
+      username: 'orphan',
+      password: 'M3@n.jsI$Aw3$0m3'
+    };
+
+    // Create orphan user
+    var _orphan = new User({
+      firstName: 'Full',
+      lastName: 'Name',
+      displayName: 'Full Name',
+      email: 'orphan@test.com',
+      username: _creds.username,
+      password: _creds.password,
+      provider: 'local'
+    });
+
+    _orphan.save(function (err, orphan) {
+      // Handle save error
+      if (err) {
+        return done(err);
+      }
+
+      agent.post('/api/auth/signin')
+        .send(_creds)
+        .expect(200)
+        .end(function (signinErr, signinRes) {
+          // Handle signin error
+          if (signinErr) {
+            return done(signinErr);
+          }
+
+          // Get the userId
+          var orphanId = orphan._id;
+
+          // Save a new article
+          agent.post('/api/articles')
+            .send(article)
+            .expect(200)
+            .end(function (articleSaveErr, articleSaveRes) {
+              // Handle article save error
+              if (articleSaveErr) {
+                return done(articleSaveErr);
+              }
+
+              // Set assertions on new article
+              (articleSaveRes.body.title).should.equal(article.title);
+              should.exist(articleSaveRes.body.user);
+              should.equal(articleSaveRes.body.user._id, orphanId);
+
+              // force the article to have an orphaned user reference
+              orphan.remove(function () {
+                // now signin with valid user
+                agent.post('/api/auth/signin')
+                  .send(credentials)
+                  .expect(200)
+                  .end(function (err, res) {
+                    // Handle signin error
+                    if (err) {
+                      return done(err);
+                    }
+
+                    // Get the article
+                    agent.get('/api/articles/' + articleSaveRes.body._id)
+                      .expect(200)
+                      .end(function (articleInfoErr, articleInfoRes) {
+                        // Handle article error
+                        if (articleInfoErr) {
+                          return done(articleInfoErr);
+                        }
+
+                        // Set assertions
+                        (articleInfoRes.body._id).should.equal(articleSaveRes.body._id);
+                        (articleInfoRes.body.title).should.equal(article.title);
+                        should.equal(articleInfoRes.body.user, undefined);
+
+                        // Call the assertion callback
+                        done();
+                      });
+                  });
+              });
+            });
+        });
+    });
+  });
+
   afterEach(function (done) {
     User.remove().exec(function () {
       Article.remove().exec(done);