diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index f246a978fd2e8..b3b5a22c69cc7 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -275,9 +275,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "anstyle"
-version = "1.0.2"
+version = "1.0.6"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "15c4c2c83f81532e5845a733998b6971faca23490340a418e9b72a3ec9de12ea"
+checksum = "8901269c6307e8d93993578286ac0edf7f195079ffff5ebdeea6a59ffb7e36bc"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "anstyle-parse"
diff --git a/substrate/frame/referenda/src/lib.rs b/substrate/frame/referenda/src/lib.rs
index 6c053dfb95e6e..c2f11d83737b2 100644
--- a/substrate/frame/referenda/src/lib.rs
+++ b/substrate/frame/referenda/src/lib.rs
@@ -628,7 +628,10 @@ pub mod pallet {
 			ensure_root(origin)?;
 			let now = frame_system::Pallet::<T>::block_number();
 
-			let mut status = Self::ensure_ongoing(index)?;
+			let mut status = match ReferendumInfoFor::<T, I>::get(index) {
+				Some(ReferendumInfo::Ongoing(status)) => Ok(status),
+				_ => Err(Error::<T, I>::NotOngoing),
+			}?;
 			// This is our wake-up, so we can disregard the alarm.
 			status.alarm = None;
 			let (info, dirty, branch) = Self::service_referendum(now, index, status);
@@ -762,7 +765,7 @@ impl<T: Config<I>, I: 'static> Polling<T::Tally> for Pallet<T, I> {
 					.clone()
 					.deciding
 					.map(|d| d.confirming.map(|x| now >= x).unwrap_or(false))
-					.unwrap();
+					.unwrap_or(false);
 				if is_finalizing {
 					return f(PollStatus::None);
 				}
@@ -791,7 +794,7 @@ impl<T: Config<I>, I: 'static> Polling<T::Tally> for Pallet<T, I> {
 					.clone()
 					.deciding
 					.map(|d| d.confirming.map(|x| now >= x).unwrap_or(false))
-					.unwrap();
+					.unwrap_or(false);
 				if is_finalizing {
 					return f(PollStatus::None);
 				}
diff --git a/substrate/frame/referenda/src/tests.rs b/substrate/frame/referenda/src/tests.rs
index 66ad2eae2d64c..bb9ffe4a0dc9b 100644
--- a/substrate/frame/referenda/src/tests.rs
+++ b/substrate/frame/referenda/src/tests.rs
@@ -58,14 +58,14 @@ fn basic_happy_path_works() {
 		run_to(7);
 		assert_eq!(confirming_until(0), 9);
 		run_to(10);
-		// #8: Should be confirmed & ended.
+		// #10: Should confirm via auction.
 		assert_eq!(approved_since(0), 10);
 		assert_ok!(Referenda::refund_decision_deposit(RuntimeOrigin::signed(2), 0));
 		run_to(13);
-		// #9: Should not yet be enacted.
+		// #13: Should not yet be enacted.
 		assert_eq!(Balances::free_balance(&42), 0);
 		run_to(14);
-		// #10: Proposal should be executed.
+		// #14: Proposal should be executed.
 		assert_eq!(Balances::free_balance(&42), 1);
 	});
 }