diff --git a/app/templates/element/peopleAutocomplete.php b/app/templates/element/peopleAutocomplete.php
index ab8204105..b1dcbf9d1 100644
--- a/app/templates/element/peopleAutocomplete.php
+++ b/app/templates/element/peopleAutocomplete.php
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@
   }
 ?>
 
-<?php if(!$vv_obj['frozen']): ?>
+<?php if(!isset($vv_obj) || !$vv_obj['frozen']): // skip for frozen fields ?>
   
   <script type="module">
     <?php if(Cake\Core\Configure::read('debug')): ?>