diff --git a/generic/views.py b/generic/views.py
index fe74457a..eccd8bc0 100644
--- a/generic/views.py
+++ b/generic/views.py
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ class ExamViews(View, LoginRequiredMixin):
         #group_map = {"rapids" : "rapid_checker", "anatomy" : "anatomy_checker", "longs":"long_checker"}
         #exam_group = group_map[self.app_name]
 
-    def check_user_access(self, user, exam_id):
+    def check_user_access(self, user, exam_id=None):
         """Check if a user should be able to access a view
 
         Args:
@@ -203,9 +203,10 @@ class ExamViews(View, LoginRequiredMixin):
         Returns:
             [boolean]: True if the user has access
         """        
-        exam = get_object_or_404(self.Exam, pk=exam_id)
-        if user in exam.get_author_objects():
-            return True
+        if exam_id is not None:
+            exam = get_object_or_404(self.Exam, pk=exam_id)
+            if user in exam.get_author_objects():
+                return True
 
         if self.app_name == "rapids" and not user.groups.filter(name='rapid_checker').exists():
             return False
@@ -219,7 +220,7 @@ class ExamViews(View, LoginRequiredMixin):
             return False
         return True
 
-    def check_user_edit_access(self, user, exam_id):
+    def check_user_edit_access(self, user, exam_id=None):
         """Check if a user should be able to access a view
 
         Args:
@@ -229,9 +230,10 @@ class ExamViews(View, LoginRequiredMixin):
             [boolean]: True if the user has access
         """        
         # If a user is an exam author they should have acccess
-        exam = get_object_or_404(self.Exam, pk=exam_id)
-        if user in exam.get_author_objects():
-            return True
+        if exam_id is not None:
+            exam = get_object_or_404(self.Exam, pk=exam_id)
+            if user in exam.get_author_objects():
+                return True
 
         if self.app_name == "rapids" and not user.groups.filter(name='rapid_checker').exists():
             return False