diff --git a/frontend/src/store/actions/ratePackageActions.js b/frontend/src/store/actions/ratePackageActions.js
index d9ed385a..f417fceb 100644
--- a/frontend/src/store/actions/ratePackageActions.js
+++ b/frontend/src/store/actions/ratePackageActions.js
@@ -11,6 +11,19 @@ export const ratePackage = (data, access_token) => async (dispatch) => {
 
   let packageName = data.package;
   let namespaceName = data.namespace;
+  console.log("Rating package: ", access_token);
+  if(access_token === null){
+    // exit this function early if we don't have an access token
+    dispatch({
+      type: RATE_PACKAGE_FAILURE,
+      payload: {
+        message: "Unauthorized to rate packages. Please login to rate packages.",
+        statuscode: "403",
+      },
+    });
+    return;
+  }
+  
 
   try {
     dispatch({