diff --git a/lib/json_error.rb b/lib/json_error.rb
index 9518eceeda4..ac6ff76edc5 100644
--- a/lib/json_error.rb
+++ b/lib/json_error.rb
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ module JsonError
       return { errors: [message] } if message.present?
     end
 
-    return { errors: [I18n.t('not_found')] } if obj.not_found
+    return { errors: [I18n.t('not_found')] } if obj.is_a?(HasErrors) && obj.not_found
 
     # Log a warning (unless obj is nil)
     Rails.logger.warn("create_errors_json called with unrecognized type: #{obj.inspect}") if obj