diff --git a/server/app/models.py b/server/app/models.py
index 1021419d1..a4b35c0a4 100644
--- a/server/app/models.py
+++ b/server/app/models.py
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ def put(self, *args, **kwds):
         pass
 
 
-AnonymousUser = AnonymousUser()
+AnonymousUser = AnonymousUser.get_or_insert("anon_user")
 
 
 class Assignment(Base):
@@ -278,6 +278,9 @@ def _can(cls, user, need, obj=None, query=None):
             return user.logged_in
 
         if action == "index":
+            if not user.logged_in:
+                return False
+
             if not query:
                 raise ValueError(
                         "Need query instance for Submission index action")