diff --git a/src/Module/HoverCard.php b/src/Module/HoverCard.php
index f3b8248a6b..ae107ca172 100644
--- a/src/Module/HoverCard.php
+++ b/src/Module/HoverCard.php
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ use Friendica\Core\Session;
 use Friendica\DI;
 use Friendica\Model\Profile;
 use Friendica\Model\User;
-use Friendica\Network\HTTPException\NotFoundException;
+use Friendica\Network\HTTPException;
 
 /**
  * Loads a profile for the HoverCard view
@@ -44,11 +44,15 @@ class HoverCard extends BaseModule
 			// Show the profile hovercard
 			$nickname = $parameters['profile'];
 		} else {
-			throw new NotFoundException(DI::l10n()->t('No profile'));
+			throw new HTTPException\NotFoundException(DI::l10n()->t('No profile'));
 		}
 
 		Profile::load($a, $nickname);
 
+		if (empty($a->profile)) {
+			throw new HTTPException\NotFoundException(DI::l10n()->t('User not found.'));
+		}
+
 		$page = DI::page();
 
 		if (!empty($a->profile['page-flags']) && ($a->profile['page-flags'] == User::PAGE_FLAGS_COMMUNITY)) {