diff --git a/lib/Trash/TrashBackend.php b/lib/Trash/TrashBackend.php
index 00afd992e..4b5eb6299 100644
--- a/lib/Trash/TrashBackend.php
+++ b/lib/Trash/TrashBackend.php
@@ -236,9 +236,7 @@ public function moveToTrash(IStorage $storage, string $internalPath): bool {
 			$fileEntry = $storage->getCache()->get($internalPath);
 			$folderId = $storage->getFolderId();
 			$user = $this->userSession->getUser();
-			if (!$user) {
-				throw new \Exception("file moved to trash with no user in context");
-			}
+
 			// ensure the folder exists
 			$this->getTrashFolder($folderId);
 
@@ -255,7 +253,7 @@ public function moveToTrash(IStorage $storage, string $internalPath): bool {
 				$result = $trashStorage->moveFromStorage($storage, $internalPath, $targetInternalPath);
 			}
 			if ($result) {
-				$this->trashManager->addTrashItem($folderId, $name, $time, $internalPath, $fileEntry->getId(), $user->getUID());
+				$this->trashManager->addTrashItem($folderId, $name, $time, $internalPath, $fileEntry->getId(), $user?->getUID() ?? '');
 
 				// some storage backends (object/encryption) can either already move the cache item or cause the target to be scanned
 				// so we only conditionally do the cache move here