diff --git a/app/models/validations/soft_validations.rb b/app/models/validations/soft_validations.rb
index a9fe203f8..75215bb40 100644
--- a/app/models/validations/soft_validations.rb
+++ b/app/models/validations/soft_validations.rb
@@ -192,6 +192,8 @@ module Validations::SoftValidations
   end
 
   def multiple_partners?
+    return unless hhmemb
+
     (2..hhmemb).count { |n| public_send("relat#{n}") == "P" } > 1
   end