diff --git a/src/aleph/handlers/content/vm.py b/src/aleph/handlers/content/vm.py
index 8c37b633..4a422962 100644
--- a/src/aleph/handlers/content/vm.py
+++ b/src/aleph/handlers/content/vm.py
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ def _map_content_to_db_model(item_hash, content):
         if content.environment.trusted_execution is not None:
             trusted_execution_policy = content.environment.trusted_execution.policy
             trusted_execution_firmware = content.environment.trusted_execution.firmware
-        if hasattr(content.requirements.node, 'node_hash'):
+        if hasattr(content, "requirements") and hasattr(content.requirements.node, 'node_hash'):
             node_hash = content.requirements.node.node_hash
 
     return db_cls(
diff --git a/tests/message_processing/test_process_instances.py b/tests/message_processing/test_process_instances.py
index 2cc1259d..2078d696 100644
--- a/tests/message_processing/test_process_instances.py
+++ b/tests/message_processing/test_process_instances.py
@@ -306,8 +306,8 @@ async def test_process_instance(
         )
         assert rootfs.size_mib == content_dict["rootfs"]["size_mib"]
         assert rootfs.persistence == content_dict["rootfs"]["persistence"]
-
         assert len(instance.volumes) == 5
+        assert instance.node_hash is None
 
         volumes_by_type = {
             type: list(volumes_iter)