diff --git a/pkg/services/object/acl/acl.go b/pkg/services/object/acl/acl.go
index 66fbeb739..6b0ba2e68 100644
--- a/pkg/services/object/acl/acl.go
+++ b/pkg/services/object/acl/acl.go
@@ -581,10 +581,6 @@ func basicACLCheck(info requestInfo) bool {
 }
 
 func stickyBitCheck(info requestInfo, owner *owner.ID) bool {
-	if owner == nil || len(info.senderKey) == 0 {
-		return false
-	}
-
 	// According to NeoFS specification sticky bit has no effect on system nodes
 	// for correct intra-container work with objects (in particular, replication).
 	if info.requestRole == acl.RoleSystem {
@@ -595,6 +591,10 @@ func stickyBitCheck(info requestInfo, owner *owner.ID) bool {
 		return true
 	}
 
+	if owner == nil || len(info.senderKey) == 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+
 	requestSenderKey := unmarshalPublicKey(info.senderKey)
 
 	return isOwnerFromKey(owner, requestSenderKey)
diff --git a/pkg/services/object/acl/acl_test.go b/pkg/services/object/acl/acl_test.go
index 22173d836..23aa5e91e 100644
--- a/pkg/services/object/acl/acl_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/object/acl/acl_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neofs-api-go/pkg/acl/eacl"
+	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neofs-api-go/pkg/owner"
 	ownertest "github.com/nspcc-dev/neofs-api-go/pkg/owner/test"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neofs-api-go/v2/acl"
 	acltest "github.com/nspcc-dev/neofs-api-go/v2/acl/test"
@@ -50,4 +51,40 @@ func TestStickyCheck(t *testing.T) {
 		info.basicACL.ResetSticky()
 		require.True(t, stickyBitCheck(info, ownertest.Generate()))
 	})
+
+	t.Run("owner ID and/or public key emptiness", func(t *testing.T) {
+		var info requestInfo
+
+		info.requestRole = eacl.RoleOthers // should be non-system role
+
+		assertFn := func(isSticky, withKey, withOwner, expected bool) {
+			if isSticky {
+				info.basicACL.SetSticky()
+			} else {
+				info.basicACL.ResetSticky()
+			}
+
+			if withKey {
+				info.senderKey = make([]byte, 33)
+			} else {
+				info.senderKey = nil
+			}
+
+			var ownerID *owner.ID
+
+			if withOwner {
+				ownerID = ownertest.Generate()
+			}
+
+			require.Equal(t, expected, stickyBitCheck(info, ownerID))
+		}
+
+		assertFn(true, false, false, false)
+		assertFn(true, true, false, false)
+		assertFn(true, false, true, false)
+		assertFn(false, false, false, true)
+		assertFn(false, true, false, true)
+		assertFn(false, false, true, true)
+		assertFn(false, true, true, true)
+	})
 }