diff --git a/direct/src/distributed/ClientRepositoryBase.py b/direct/src/distributed/ClientRepositoryBase.py
index ece578cad7..ba62bb1ee4 100644
--- a/direct/src/distributed/ClientRepositoryBase.py
+++ b/direct/src/distributed/ClientRepositoryBase.py
@@ -469,6 +469,9 @@ class ClientRepositoryBase(ConnectionRepository):
                     f"Asked to update non-existent DistObj {doId} and failed to find it")
 
     def __doUpdateOwner(self, doId, di):
+        if not self.hasOwnerView():
+            return False
+
         ovObj = self.doId2ownerView.get(doId)
         if ovObj:
             odg = Datagram(di.getDatagram())