diff --git a/common/djangoapps/third_party_auth/pipeline.py b/common/djangoapps/third_party_auth/pipeline.py
index 1c602d6f222e..734876688236 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/third_party_auth/pipeline.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/third_party_auth/pipeline.py
@@ -586,20 +586,15 @@ def should_force_account_creation():
         return (current_provider and
                 (current_provider.skip_email_verification or current_provider.send_to_registration_first))
 
-    def is_provider_saml():
-        """ Verify that the third party provider uses SAML """
-        current_provider = provider.Registry.get_from_pipeline({'backend': current_partial.backend, 'kwargs': kwargs})
-        saml_providers_list = list(provider.Registry.get_enabled_by_backend_name('tpa-saml'))
-        return (current_provider and
-                current_provider.slug in [saml_provider.slug for saml_provider in saml_providers_list])
-
     if current_partial:
         strategy.session_set('partial_pipeline_token_', current_partial.token)
         strategy.storage.partial.store(current_partial)
 
     if not user:
         # Use only email for user existence check in case of saml provider
-        if is_provider_saml():
+        saml_provider, _ = is_saml_provider(backend, kwargs)
+
+        if saml_provider:
             user_details = {'email': details.get('email')} if details else None
         else:
             user_details = details
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/third_party_auth/utils.py b/common/djangoapps/third_party_auth/utils.py
index da0d55af12a4..0edcccde1275 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/third_party_auth/utils.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/third_party_auth/utils.py
@@ -80,8 +80,10 @@ def validate_uuid4_string(uuid_string):
 
 def is_saml_provider(backend, kwargs):
     """ Verify that the third party provider uses SAML """
-    current_provider = provider.Registry.get_from_pipeline({'backend': backend, 'kwargs': kwargs})
-    saml_providers_list = list(provider.Registry.get_enabled_by_backend_name('tpa-saml'))
+    current_provider = None
+    if backend:
+        current_provider = provider.Registry.get_from_pipeline({'backend': backend.name, 'kwargs': kwargs})
+        saml_providers_list = list(provider.Registry.get_enabled_by_backend_name('tpa-saml'))
     return (current_provider and
             current_provider.slug in [saml_provider.slug for saml_provider in saml_providers_list]), current_provider