diff --git b/core/modules/field/src/Tests/TranslationTest.php a/core/modules/field/src/Tests/TranslationTest.php
index 1aabda5..4119b88 100644
--- b/core/modules/field/src/Tests/TranslationTest.php
+++ a/core/modules/field/src/Tests/TranslationTest.php
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ function testTranslatableFieldSaveLoad() {
    */
   public function testFieldAccess() {
     $access_control_handler = \Drupal::entityManager()->getAccessControlHandler($this->entity_type);
-    $access_control_handler->fieldAccess('view', $this->field);
+    $this->assertTrue($access_control_handler->fieldAccess('view', $this->field));
   }
 
 }
diff --git b/core/modules/language/language.module a/core/modules/language/language.module
index 2b95c8b..4a20fa3 100644
--- b/core/modules/language/language.module
+++ a/core/modules/language/language.module
@@ -511,20 +511,20 @@ function language_field_info_alter(&$info) {
  * Implements hook_entity_field_access()
  */
 function language_entity_field_access($operation, FieldDefinitionInterface $field_definition, AccountInterface $account, FieldItemListInterface $items = NULL) {
-  $entity_type = \Drupal::entityManager()->getDefinition($field_definition->getTargetEntityTypeId());
-  $langcode_key = $entity_type->getKey('langcode');
-  if ($field_definition->getName() == $langcode_key) {
-    $bundle = $field_definition->getTargetBundle();
-    // If there is no bundle, this is a base field, attempt to get the bundle
-    // through the entity.
-    if (!$bundle && $items) {
+  // Only allow access to a langcode field if the entity it is attached to is
+  // configured to have an alterable language.
+  // Without items we can not decide whether or not to allow access.
+  if ($items) {
+    // Check if we are dealing with a langcode field.
+    $entity_type = \Drupal::entityManager()->getDefinition($field_definition->getTargetEntityTypeId());
+    if ($field_definition->getName() == $entity_type->getKey('langcode')) {
+      // Fall back to neutral if we do not have a bundle.
       $bundle = $items->getEntity()->bundle();
-    }
-    // If we have a bundle now, check the configuration, otherwise fall back
-    // to neutral.
-    if ($bundle) {
-      $config = ContentLanguageSettings::loadByEntityTypeBundle($entity_type->id(), $bundle);
-      return AccessResult::forbiddenIf(!$config->isLanguageAlterable());
+      if ($bundle) {
+        // Grant access depending on whether the entity language can be altered.
+        $config = ContentLanguageSettings::loadByEntityTypeBundle($entity_type->id(), $bundle);
+        return AccessResult::forbiddenIf(!$config->isLanguageAlterable());
+      }
     }
   }
   return AccessResult::neutral();