diff --git a/Koha/Item.pm b/Koha/Item.pm
index 0d2574e9cd..241a60bb38 100644
--- a/Koha/Item.pm
+++ b/Koha/Item.pm
@@ -2072,7 +2072,9 @@ Returns the effective bookability of the current item, be that item or itemtype
 sub effective_bookable {
     my ($self) = @_;
 
-    return $self->bookable // $self->itemtype->bookable;
+    return $self->bookable if defined $self->bookable;
+    return $self->itemtype->bookable if $self->itemtype;
+    return 0;
 }
 
 =head3 orders