diff --git a/zerver/lib/streams.py b/zerver/lib/streams.py
index eee28ac1ec..fd984be121 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/streams.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/streams.py
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ def access_stream_for_send_message(
     elif stream.stream_post_policy != Stream.STREAM_POST_POLICY_EVERYONE and sender.is_guest:
         raise JsonableError(_("Guests cannot send to this stream."))
     elif stream.stream_post_policy == Stream.STREAM_POST_POLICY_RESTRICT_NEW_MEMBERS:
-        if sender.is_bot and (sender.bot_owner is not None and sender.bot_owner.is_new_member):
+        if sender.is_bot and (sender.bot_owner is None or sender.bot_owner.is_new_member):
             raise JsonableError(_("New members cannot send to this stream."))
         elif sender.is_new_member:
             raise JsonableError(_("New members cannot send to this stream."))
diff --git a/zerver/tests/test_message_send.py b/zerver/tests/test_message_send.py
index 8b42c95ceb..40b1ce6a9d 100644
--- a/zerver/tests/test_message_send.py
+++ b/zerver/tests/test_message_send.py
@@ -279,7 +279,8 @@ class MessagePOSTTest(ZulipTestCase):
             non_admin_owned_bot, stream_name, "New members cannot send to this stream."
         )
 
-        # Bots without owner (except cross realm bot) cannot send to announcement only stream
+        # Bots without owner (except cross realm bot) cannot send to STREAM_POST_POLICY_ADMINS_ONLY and
+        # STREAM_POST_POLICY_RESTRICT_NEW_MEMBERS streams
         bot_without_owner = do_create_user(
             email="free-bot@zulip.testserver",
             password="",