diff --git src/bp-friends/bp-friends-functions.php src/bp-friends/bp-friends-functions.php
index ae2efb744..a57374a79 100644
--- src/bp-friends/bp-friends-functions.php
+++ src/bp-friends/bp-friends-functions.php
@@ -42,6 +42,12 @@ function friends_add_friend( $initiator_userid, $friend_userid, $force_accept =
 		return true;
 	}
 
+	$initiator_user = get_user_by( 'id', $initiator_userid );
+	$friend_user    = get_user_by( 'id', $friend_userid );
+	if ( ! $initiator_user || ! $friend_user ) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
 	// Setup the friendship data.
 	$friendship = new BP_Friends_Friendship;
 	$friendship->initiator_user_id = (int) $initiator_userid;