diff --git a/libraries/src/MVC/Model/FormModel.php b/libraries/src/MVC/Model/FormModel.php
index e9a14c3ce47ee..ffb80a6c3e13a 100644
--- a/libraries/src/MVC/Model/FormModel.php
+++ b/libraries/src/MVC/Model/FormModel.php
@@ -150,7 +150,13 @@ public function checkout($pk = null)
                 return true;
             }
 
-            $user            = $this->getCurrentUser();
+            $user = $this->getCurrentUser();
+
+            // When the user is a guest, don't do a checkout
+            if (!$user->id) {
+                return false;
+            }
+
             $checkedOutField = $table->getColumnAlias('checked_out');
 
             // Check if this is the user having previously checked out the row.
diff --git a/tests/Unit/Libraries/Cms/MVC/Model/FormModelTest.php b/tests/Unit/Libraries/Cms/MVC/Model/FormModelTest.php
index 6874c3ad4636d..ccc582c4a26b4 100644
--- a/tests/Unit/Libraries/Cms/MVC/Model/FormModelTest.php
+++ b/tests/Unit/Libraries/Cms/MVC/Model/FormModelTest.php
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ public function getForm($data = array(), $loadData = true)
      *
      * @since   4.2.0
      */
-    public function testSucessfullCheckout()
+    public function testSuccessfulCheckout()
     {
         $table              = $this->createStub(Table::class);
         $table->checked_out = 0;
@@ -263,7 +263,11 @@ public function getForm($data = array(), $loadData = true)
                 return null;
             }
         };
-        $model->setCurrentUser(new User());
+
+        // Must be a valid user
+        $user     = new User();
+        $user->id = 1;
+        $model->setCurrentUser($user);
 
         $this->assertTrue($model->checkout(1));
     }
@@ -275,7 +279,7 @@ public function getForm($data = array(), $loadData = true)
      *
      * @since   4.2.0
      */
-    public function testSucessfullCheckoutWithEmptyRecord()
+    public function testSuccessfulCheckoutWithEmptyRecord()
     {
         $model = new class (['dbo' => $this->createStub(DatabaseInterface::class)], $this->createStub(MVCFactoryInterface::class)) extends FormModel
         {
@@ -307,6 +311,41 @@ public function testFailedCheckout()
         $mvcFactory = $this->createStub(MVCFactoryInterface::class);
         $mvcFactory->method('createTable')->willReturn($table);
 
+        $model = new class (['dbo' => $this->createStub(DatabaseInterface::class)], $mvcFactory) extends FormModel
+        {
+            public function getForm($data = array(), $loadData = true)
+            {
+                return null;
+            }
+        };
+
+        // Must be a valid user
+        $user     = new User();
+        $user->id = 1;
+        $model->setCurrentUser($user);
+
+        $this->assertFalse($model->checkout(1));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @testdox  can't checkout a record when the current user is a guest
+     *
+     * @return  void
+     *
+     * @since   4.2.0
+     */
+    public function testFailedCheckoutAsGuest()
+    {
+        $table              = $this->createStub(Table::class);
+        $table->checked_out = 0;
+        $table->method('load')->willReturn(true);
+        $table->method('hasField')->willReturn(true);
+        $table->method('checkIn')->willReturn(false);
+        $table->method('getColumnAlias')->willReturn('checked_out');
+
+        $mvcFactory = $this->createStub(MVCFactoryInterface::class);
+        $mvcFactory->method('createTable')->willReturn($table);
+
         $model = new class (['dbo' => $this->createStub(DatabaseInterface::class)], $mvcFactory) extends FormModel
         {
             public function getForm($data = array(), $loadData = true)
@@ -353,7 +392,7 @@ public function getForm($data = array(), $loadData = true)
      *
      * @since   4.2.0
      */
-    public function testSuccessfullCheckoutFieldNotAvailableCheck()
+    public function testSuccessfulCheckoutFieldNotAvailableCheck()
     {
         $table              = $this->createStub(Table::class);
         $table->checked_out = 0;
@@ -381,7 +420,7 @@ public function getForm($data = array(), $loadData = true)
      *
      * @since   4.2.0
      */
-    public function testSuccessfullCheckoutWhenCurrentUserIsDifferent()
+    public function testSuccessfulCheckoutWhenCurrentUserIsDifferent()
     {
         $table              = $this->createStub(Table::class);
         $table->checked_out = 1;