diff --git a/mediagoblin/templates/mediagoblin/user_pages/media.html b/mediagoblin/templates/mediagoblin/user_pages/media.html
index 9b331789..4b5c9337 100644
--- a/mediagoblin/templates/mediagoblin/user_pages/media.html
+++ b/mediagoblin/templates/mediagoblin/user_pages/media.html
@@ -60,8 +60,9 @@
       {% trans date=media.created.strftime("%Y-%m-%d") -%}
         Added on {{ date }}.
       {%- endtrans %}
-      {% if media['uploader'] == request.user._id or 
-                               request.user['is_admin'] %}
+      {% if request.user and
+            (media.uploader == request.user._id or 
+             request.user.is_admin) %}
         {% set edit_url = request.urlgen('mediagoblin.edit.edit_media',
                                    user= media.get_uploader.username,
                                    media= media._id) %}
diff --git a/mediagoblin/templates/mediagoblin/user_pages/user.html b/mediagoblin/templates/mediagoblin/user_pages/user.html
index b952e88c..78bbaf8c 100644
--- a/mediagoblin/templates/mediagoblin/user_pages/user.html
+++ b/mediagoblin/templates/mediagoblin/user_pages/user.html
@@ -113,7 +113,8 @@
     {% else %}
       <div class="grid_6 alpha">
         {% include "mediagoblin/utils/profile.html" %}
-        {% if request.user._id == user._id or request.user.is_admin %}
+        {% if request.user and
+              (request.user._id == user._id or request.user.is_admin) %}
           <a href="{{ request.urlgen('mediagoblin.edit.profile') }}?username={{
                           user.username }}">
             {%- trans %}Edit profile{% endtrans -%}
diff --git a/mediagoblin/tools/template.py b/mediagoblin/tools/template.py
index d0400347..54a40de6 100644
--- a/mediagoblin/tools/template.py
+++ b/mediagoblin/tools/template.py
@@ -41,8 +41,11 @@ def get_jinja_env(template_loader, locale):
     if SETUP_JINJA_ENVS.has_key(locale):
         return SETUP_JINJA_ENVS[locale]
 
+    # jinja2.StrictUndefined will give exceptions on references
+    # to undefined/unknown variables in templates.
     template_env = jinja2.Environment(
         loader=template_loader, autoescape=True,
+        undefined=jinja2.StrictUndefined,
         extensions=['jinja2.ext.i18n', 'jinja2.ext.autoescape'])
 
     template_env.install_gettext_callables(