diff --git a/pmpro-approvals.php b/pmpro-approvals.php
index e018793..e316682 100644
--- a/pmpro-approvals.php
+++ b/pmpro-approvals.php
@@ -711,7 +711,7 @@ public static function getUserApprovalStatus( $user_id = null, $level_id = null,
 		}
 
 		//make sure we have a user and level by this point
-		if ( empty( $user_id ) || empty( $level_id ) ) {
+		if ( empty( $user_id ) || empty( $level_id ) || empty( $level ) ) {
 			return false;
 		}