diff --git a/Koha/Object.pm b/Koha/Object.pm
index 2b1d2e2938..12b16eb8d7 100644
--- a/Koha/Object.pm
+++ b/Koha/Object.pm
@@ -551,6 +551,9 @@ Returns a representation of the object, suitable for API output.
 
 sub to_api {
     my ( $self, $params ) = @_;
+
+    return unless $self->accessible;
+
     my $json_object = $self->TO_JSON;
 
     # Make sure we duplicate the $params variable to avoid
diff --git a/Koha/Patron.pm b/Koha/Patron.pm
index 902c6995d3..4e63c4f261 100644
--- a/Koha/Patron.pm
+++ b/Koha/Patron.pm
@@ -2288,6 +2288,8 @@ sub to_api {
 
     my $json_patron = $self->SUPER::to_api( $params );
 
+    return unless $json_patron;
+
     $json_patron->{restricted} = ( $self->is_debarred )
                                     ? Mojo::JSON->true
                                     : Mojo::JSON->false;