diff --git a/backend/utils/other/storage.py b/backend/utils/other/storage.py
index fc302c3cee..fe35c4a020 100644
--- a/backend/utils/other/storage.py
+++ b/backend/utils/other/storage.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 from google.oauth2 import service_account
 from google.cloud.storage import transfer_manager
 from google.cloud.exceptions import NotFound as BlobNotFound
-from google.cloud.exceptions import NotFound
+from google.cloud.exceptions import NotFound, Forbidden
 
 from database.redis_db import cache_signed_url, get_cached_signed_url
 from utils import encryption
@@ -47,20 +47,27 @@ def upload_profile_audio(file_path: str, uid: str):
 
 
 def get_user_has_speech_profile(uid: str, max_age_days: int = None) -> bool:
-    bucket = storage_client.bucket(speech_profiles_bucket)
-    blob = bucket.blob(f'{uid}/speech_profile.wav')
-    if not blob.exists():
+    if not speech_profiles_bucket:
         return False
 
-    # Check age if max_age_days is specified
-    if max_age_days is not None:
-        blob.reload()
-        if blob.time_created:
-            age = datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc) - blob.time_created
-            if age.days > max_age_days:
-                return False
+    try:
+        bucket = storage_client.bucket(speech_profiles_bucket)
+        blob = bucket.blob(f'{uid}/speech_profile.wav')
+
+        if not blob.exists():
+            return False
 
-    return True
+        # Check age if max_age_days is specified
+        if max_age_days is not None:
+            blob.reload()
+            if blob.time_created:
+                age = datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc) - blob.time_created
+                if age.days > max_age_days:
+                    return False
+
+        return True
+    except Forbidden:
+        return False
 
 
 def get_profile_audio_if_exists(uid: str, download: bool = True) -> str: