diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e9b550aea..819d9ec20 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 ### Bug Fixes
 - The nd2 reader throws a different exception with JP2 files ([#1242](../../pull/1242))
+- Better guards on ACL migration ([#1243](../../pull/1243))
 
 ## 1.23.1
 
diff --git a/girder_annotation/girder_large_image_annotation/models/annotation.py b/girder_annotation/girder_large_image_annotation/models/annotation.py
index 07aa7725e..2bf75d76d 100644
--- a/girder_annotation/girder_large_image_annotation/models/annotation.py
+++ b/girder_annotation/girder_large_image_annotation/models/annotation.py
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ def _migrateACL(self, annotation):
 
         self.copyAccessPolicies(item, annotation, save=False)
         self.setUserAccess(annotation, user, AccessType.ADMIN, force=True, save=False)
-        self.setPublic(annotation, folder.get('public'), save=False)
+        self.setPublic(annotation, folder.get('public') or False, save=False)
 
         # call the super class save method to avoid messing with elements
         super().save(annotation)