diff --git a/Tusker/Views/Profile Header/ProfileHeaderView.swift b/Tusker/Views/Profile Header/ProfileHeaderView.swift
index 6f98c6bc..3fc9bc6e 100644
--- a/Tusker/Views/Profile Header/ProfileHeaderView.swift	
+++ b/Tusker/Views/Profile Header/ProfileHeaderView.swift	
@@ -171,9 +171,11 @@ class ProfileHeaderView: UIView {
     }
     
     private func updateRelationship() {
-        guard let relationship = mastodonController.persistentContainer.relationship(forAccount: accountID) else {
-            return
-        }
+        // todo: mastodonController should never be nil, but ProfileHeaderViews are getting leaked
+        guard let mastodonController = mastodonController,
+              let relationship = mastodonController.persistentContainer.relationship(forAccount: accountID) else {
+                  return
+              }
         
         followsYouLabel.isHidden = !relationship.followedBy
     }