diff --git a/submissions/views.py b/submissions/views.py
index 28008f7149a6a0f279343c29bd0c15a7fdf8a002..a754173b873e3be4752167567e08df1a05f7b920 100644
--- a/submissions/views.py
+++ b/submissions/views.py
@@ -409,6 +409,8 @@ def submission_detail_wo_vn_nr(request, identifier_wo_vn_nr):
     submissions = get_list_or_404(
         Submission, preprint__identifier_w_vn_nr__startswith=identifier_wo_vn_nr)
     latest = submissions[0].get_latest_version()
+    if not latest: # this can happen if there exists no public version in this thread
+        raise Http404
     return redirect(reverse('submissions:submission',
                             kwargs={ 'identifier_w_vn_nr': latest.preprint.identifier_w_vn_nr }))