diff --git a/pkg/services/tree/signature.go b/pkg/services/tree/signature.go
index 63485a707..b932f6de6 100644
--- a/pkg/services/tree/signature.go
+++ b/pkg/services/tree/signature.go
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func (s *Service) verifyClient(req message, cid cidSDK.ID, rawBearer []byte, op
 		}
 		tb = *tbCore.Value
 
-		if bt.Impersonate() {
+		if tableFromBearer && bt.Impersonate() {
 			signer = bt.SigningKeyBytes()
 		}
 	}