diff --git a/coldfront/core/utils/templatetags/common_tags.py b/coldfront/core/utils/templatetags/common_tags.py
index 9a42d42013..429af6e41a 100644
--- a/coldfront/core/utils/templatetags/common_tags.py
+++ b/coldfront/core/utils/templatetags/common_tags.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def get_icon(expand_accordion):
 
 @register.filter
 def convert_boolean_to_icon(boolean):
-    if boolean == False:
+    if boolean is False:
         return mark_safe(
             '<span class="badge badge-success"><i class="fas fa-check"></i></span>'
         )
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ def get_value_by_index(array, index):
 
 
 @register.simple_tag
-def navbar_active_item(menu_item, request):
+def navbar_active_item(menu_item, request=None):
     view_map = {
         "center-summary": ["center-summary"],
         "home": ["home"],
@@ -107,7 +107,10 @@ def navbar_active_item(menu_item, request):
             "grant-report",
         ],
     }
-    view_name = request.resolver_match.view_name
+    resolver_match = getattr(request, "resolver_match", None)
+    view_name = getattr(resolver_match, "view_name", None)
+    if view_name is None:
+        return ""
 
     if menu_item in view_map:
         if view_name in view_map[menu_item]:
diff --git a/coldfront/core/utils/tests/tests.py b/coldfront/core/utils/tests/tests.py
index a39b155ac3..7f349749d0 100644
--- a/coldfront/core/utils/tests/tests.py
+++ b/coldfront/core/utils/tests/tests.py
@@ -1 +1,21 @@
-# Create your tests here.
+from django.template import Context, Template
+from django.test import RequestFactory, SimpleTestCase
+from django.urls import resolve
+
+
+class NavbarActiveItemTests(SimpleTestCase):
+    def test_missing_request_context_returns_empty_string(self):
+        template = Template("{% load common_tags %}{% navbar_active_item 'home' request %}")
+
+        rendered = template.render(Context({}))
+
+        self.assertEqual(rendered, "")
+
+    def test_matching_view_returns_active(self):
+        template = Template("{% load common_tags %}{% navbar_active_item 'home' request %}")
+        request = RequestFactory().get("/")
+        request.resolver_match = resolve("/")
+
+        rendered = template.render(Context({"request": request}))
+
+        self.assertEqual(rendered, "active")