diff --git a/jarvis/cogs/owner.py b/jarvis/cogs/owner.py
index 07baa7f..89a83b4 100644
--- a/jarvis/cogs/owner.py
+++ b/jarvis/cogs/owner.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class OwnerCog(commands.Cog):
         self.admins = get_config().admins
 
     @commands.command(name="load", hidden=True)
-    @commands.check(user_is_bot_admin)
+    @user_is_bot_admin()
     async def _load_cog(self, ctx, *, cog: str):
         info = await self.bot.application_info()
         if (
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class OwnerCog(commands.Cog):
             await ctx.send("I'm afraid I can't let you do that")
 
     @commands.command(name="unload", hidden=True)
-    @commands.check(user_is_bot_admin)
+    @user_is_bot_admin()
     async def _unload_cog(self, ctx, *, cog: str):
         if cog == "jarvis.cogs.owner":
             await ctx.send("Cannot unload `owner` cog")
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class OwnerCog(commands.Cog):
             await ctx.send("I'm afraid I can't let you do that")
 
     @commands.command(name="reload", hidden=True)
-    @commands.check(user_is_bot_admin)
+    @user_is_bot_admin()
     async def _cog_reload(self, ctx, *, cog: str):
         if cog == "jarvis.cogs.owner":
             await ctx.send("Cannot reload `owner` cog")
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ class OwnerCog(commands.Cog):
             )
 
     @_system.command(name="restart", hidden=True)
-    @commands.check(user_is_bot_admin)
+    @user_is_bot_admin()
     async def _restart(self, ctx):
         info = await self.bot.application_info()
         if (
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class OwnerCog(commands.Cog):
             await ctx.send("I'm afraid I can't let you do that")
 
     @_system.command(name="update", hidden=True)
-    @commands.check(user_is_bot_admin)
+    @user_is_bot_admin()
     async def _update(self, ctx):
         info = await self.bot.application_info()
         if (
diff --git a/jarvis/utils/__init__.py b/jarvis/utils/__init__.py
index 7cfcdd6..17ef1ca 100644
--- a/jarvis/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/jarvis/utils/__init__.py
@@ -88,5 +88,12 @@ def get_repo_hash():
     return repo.head.object.hexsha
 
 
-def user_is_bot_admin(ctx):
-    return ctx.author.id in jarvis.config.get_config().admins
+def user_is_bot_admin():
+    def predicate(ctx):
+        config = jarvis.config.get_config()
+        if getattr(config, "admins", None):
+            return ctx.author.id in config.admins
+        else:
+            return False
+
+    return commands.check(predicate)