diff --git a/core/modules/file/src/Plugin/Validation/Constraint/FileValidationConstraintValidator.php b/core/modules/file/src/Plugin/Validation/Constraint/FileValidationConstraintValidator.php
index 972aa69767..50e4c3611d 100644
--- a/core/modules/file/src/Plugin/Validation/Constraint/FileValidationConstraintValidator.php
+++ b/core/modules/file/src/Plugin/Validation/Constraint/FileValidationConstraintValidator.php
@@ -14,8 +14,14 @@ class FileValidationConstraintValidator extends ConstraintValidator {
    * {@inheritdoc}
    */
   public function validate($value, Constraint $constraint) {
+    // The file might not exist. In that case we will already have an
+    // invalid reference violation.
+    if (!($file = $value->get('entity')->getTarget())) {
+      return;
+    }
+
     // Get the file to execute validators.
-    $file = $value->get('entity')->getTarget()->getValue();
+    $file = $file->getValue();
     // Get the validators.
     $validators = $value->getUploadValidators();
     // Checks that a file meets the criteria specified by the validators.