diff --git a/kpi/deployment_backends/kobocat_backend.py b/kpi/deployment_backends/kobocat_backend.py
index 59b363eca5..8244b498ed 100644
--- a/kpi/deployment_backends/kobocat_backend.py
+++ b/kpi/deployment_backends/kobocat_backend.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 )
 from kpi.exceptions import (
     AttachmentNotFoundException,
+    InvalidXFormException,
     InvalidXPathException,
     SubmissionIntegrityError,
     SubmissionNotFoundException,
@@ -1049,7 +1050,10 @@ def set_validation_statuses(self, user: 'auth.User', data: dict) -> dict:
 
     @property
     def submission_count(self):
-        return self.xform.num_of_submissions
+        try:
+            return self.xform.num_of_submissions
+        except InvalidXFormException:
+            return 0
 
     @property
     def submission_list_url(self):
@@ -1167,9 +1171,12 @@ def xform(self):
                 )  # Avoid extra query to validate username below
                 .first()
             )
-            if not (xform.user.username == self.asset.owner.username and
-                    xform.id_string == self.xform_id_string):
-                raise Exception(
+            if not (
+                xform
+                and xform.user.username == self.asset.owner.username
+                and xform.id_string == self.xform_id_string
+            ):
+                raise InvalidXFormException(
                     'Deployment links to an unexpected KoBoCAT XForm')
             setattr(self, '_xform', xform)
 
diff --git a/kpi/exceptions.py b/kpi/exceptions.py
index f33f3afa43..ec5d00ac47 100644
--- a/kpi/exceptions.py
+++ b/kpi/exceptions.py
@@ -74,6 +74,10 @@ class InvalidSearchException(exceptions.APIException):
     default_code = 'invalid_search'
 
 
+class InvalidXFormException(Exception):
+    pass
+
+
 class InvalidXPathException(Exception):
     pass