diff --git a/src/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-posts-controller.php b/src/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-posts-controller.php
index 05489359da..5aa7c78b72 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-posts-controller.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-posts-controller.php
@@ -1288,7 +1288,9 @@ class WP_REST_Posts_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 		// Can we read the parent if we're inheriting?
 		if ( 'inherit' === $post->post_status && $post->post_parent > 0 ) {
 			$parent = get_post( $post->post_parent );
-			return $this->check_read_permission( $parent );
+			if ( $parent ) {
+				return $this->check_read_permission( $parent );
+			}
 		}
 
 		/*
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/tests/rest-api/rest-attachments-controller.php b/tests/phpunit/tests/rest-api/rest-attachments-controller.php
index a7147f250a..98a079b65b 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit/tests/rest-api/rest-attachments-controller.php
+++ b/tests/phpunit/tests/rest-api/rest-attachments-controller.php
@@ -480,6 +480,31 @@ class WP_Test_REST_Attachments_Controller extends WP_Test_REST_Post_Type_Control
 		$this->assertEquals( 403, $response->get_status() );
 	}
 
+	public function test_get_item_inherit_status_with_invalid_parent() {
+		$attachment_id = $this->factory->attachment->create_object( $this->test_file, REST_TESTS_IMPOSSIBLY_HIGH_NUMBER, array(
+			'post_mime_type' => 'image/jpeg',
+			'post_excerpt'   => 'A sample caption',
+		) );
+		$request = new WP_REST_Request( 'GET', sprintf( '/wp/v2/media/%d', $attachment_id ) );
+		$response = $this->server->dispatch( $request );
+		$data = $response->get_data();
+
+		$this->assertEquals( 200, $response->get_status() );
+		$this->assertEquals( $attachment_id, $data['id'] );
+	}
+
+	public function test_get_item_auto_status_with_invalid_parent_returns_error() {
+		$attachment_id = $this->factory->attachment->create_object( $this->test_file, REST_TESTS_IMPOSSIBLY_HIGH_NUMBER, array(
+			'post_mime_type' => 'image/jpeg',
+			'post_excerpt'   => 'A sample caption',
+			'post_status'    => 'auto-draft',
+		) );
+		$request = new WP_REST_Request( 'GET', sprintf( '/wp/v2/media/%d', $attachment_id ) );
+		$response = $this->server->dispatch( $request );
+
+		$this->assertErrorResponse( 'rest_forbidden', $response, 403 );
+	}
+
 	public function test_create_item() {
 		wp_set_current_user( self::$author_id );