diff --git a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
index 660bffcb00..06d0b1f9c8 100644
--- a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ def convert_json_params
   end
 
   def json_api_request?
-    request.format.json? || Mime::Type.lookup(request.content_type)&.json?
+    request.format.json? || ( request.content_type && Mime::Type.lookup(request.content_type)&.json? )
   end
 
   # filter that responds with :not_acceptable if request rdf for non rdf capable resource