diff --git a/core/modules/file/src/Plugin/Validation/Constraint/FileValidationConstraintValidator.php b/core/modules/file/src/Plugin/Validation/Constraint/FileValidationConstraintValidator.php
index 972aa69767..8b26e88ce8 100644
--- a/core/modules/file/src/Plugin/Validation/Constraint/FileValidationConstraintValidator.php
+++ b/core/modules/file/src/Plugin/Validation/Constraint/FileValidationConstraintValidator.php
@@ -14,12 +14,19 @@ class FileValidationConstraintValidator extends ConstraintValidator {
    * {@inheritdoc}
    */
   public function validate($value, Constraint $constraint) {
+    // The file might not exist. In that case we will already have an
+    // invalid reference violation.
+    $file_target = $value->get('entity')->getTarget();
+    if (!$file_target) {
+      return;
+    }
+
     // Get the file to execute validators.
-    $file = $value->get('entity')->getTarget()->getValue();
+    $file = $file_target->getValue();
     // Get the validators.
     $validators = $value->getUploadValidators();
     // Checks that a file meets the criteria specified by the validators.
-    if ($errors = file_validate($file, $validators)) {
+    if ($errors = file_validate($file_target, $validators)) {
       foreach ($errors as $error) {
         $this->context->addViolation($error);
       }