# Cannot delete topic that is assigned

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/cannot-delete-topic-that-is-assigned/84195
**Category:** Bug
**Created:** [March 30, 2018, 2:40am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cannot-delete-topic-that-is-assigned/84195 "2018-03-30T02:40:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![jomaxro](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/jomaxro/32/126216_2.png) [@jomaxro](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jomaxro)
#### Post date: [March 30, 2018, 2:40am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cannot-delete-topic-that-is-assigned/84195/1 "2018-03-30T02:40:52Z")

</div>

When a topic is assigned to a user via [Discourse Assign](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-assign/58044) the topic can no longer be deleted.

**Repro:**

1. Assign a topic to a staff member
2. Attempt to delete a topic
3. Topic is not deleted - no visible feedback

Error:

```plaintext
NoMethodError (undefined method `publish_change_to_clients!' for nil:NilClass)
/var/www/discourse/plugins/discourse-assign/lib/topic_assigner.rb:170:in `unassign'

```

> **Log Backtrace**
>
> ```plaintext
> /var/www/discourse/plugins/discourse-assign/lib/topic_assigner.rb:170:in `unassign'
> /var/www/discourse/plugins/discourse-assign/plugin.rb:195:in `block (2 levels) in activate!'
> /var/www/discourse/lib/plugin/instance.rb:258:in `block in on'
> /var/www/discourse/lib/discourse_event.rb:12:in `block in trigger'
> /usr/local/lib/ruby/2.4.0/set.rb:324:in `each_key'
> /usr/local/lib/ruby/2.4.0/set.rb:324:in `each'
> /var/www/discourse/lib/discourse_event.rb:11:in `trigger'
> /var/www/discourse/app/models/post_action.rb:157:in `agree_flags!'
> /var/www/discourse/lib/post_destroyer.rb:197:in `agree_with_flags'
> /var/www/discourse/lib/post_destroyer.rb:115:in `block in perform_delete'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/activerecord-5.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/database_statements.rb:235:in `block in transaction'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/activerecord-5.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/transaction.rb:194:in `block in within_new_transaction'
> /usr/local/lib/ruby/2.4.0/monitor.rb:214:in `mon_synchronize'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/activerecord-5.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/transaction.rb:191:in `within_new_transaction'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/activerecord-5.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/database_statements.rb:235:in `transaction'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/activerecord-5.1.4/lib/active_record/transactions.rb:210:in `transaction'
> /var/www/discourse/lib/post_destroyer.rb:107:in `perform_delete'
> /var/www/discourse/lib/post_destroyer.rb:50:in `destroy'
> /var/www/discourse/app/controllers/topics_controller.rb:459:in `destroy'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_controller/metal/basic_implicit_render.rb:4:in `send_action'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/abstract_controller/base.rb:186:in `process_action'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_controller/metal/rendering.rb:30:in `process_action'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/abstract_controller/callbacks.rb:20:in `block in process_action'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/activesupport-5.1.4/lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:131:in `run_callbacks'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/abstract_controller/callbacks.rb:19:in `process_action'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_controller/metal/rescue.rb:20:in `process_action'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_controller/metal/instrumentation.rb:32:in `block in process_action'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/activesupport-5.1.4/lib/active_support/notifications.rb:166:in `block in instrument'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/activesupport-5.1.4/lib/active_support/notifications/instrumenter.rb:21:in `instrument'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/activesupport-5.1.4/lib/active_support/notifications.rb:166:in `instrument'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_controller/metal/instrumentation.rb:30:in `process_action'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_controller/metal/params_wrapper.rb:252:in `process_action'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/activerecord-5.1.4/lib/active_record/railties/controller_runtime.rb:22:in `process_action'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/abstract_controller/base.rb:124:in `process'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionview-5.1.4/lib/action_view/rendering.rb:30:in `process'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/rack-mini-profiler-1.0.0/lib/mini_profiler/profiling_methods.rb:78:in `block in profile_method'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_controller/metal.rb:189:in `dispatch'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_controller/metal.rb:253:in `dispatch'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:49:in `dispatch'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:31:in `serve'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:50:in `block in serve'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:33:in `each'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:33:in `serve'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:834:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/rack-protection-2.0.1/lib/rack/protection/frame_options.rb:31:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/lib/middleware/omniauth_bypass_middleware.rb:24:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/rack-2.0.4/lib/rack/conditional_get.rb:38:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/rack-2.0.4/lib/rack/head.rb:12:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/lib/middleware/anonymous_cache.rb:149:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/rack-2.0.4/lib/rack/session/abstract/id.rb:232:in `context'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/rack-2.0.4/lib/rack/session/abstract/id.rb:226:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/cookies.rb:613:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/callbacks.rb:26:in `block in call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/activesupport-5.1.4/lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:97:in `run_callbacks'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/callbacks.rb:24:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/debug_exceptions.rb:59:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/show_exceptions.rb:31:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/logster-1.2.9/lib/logster/middleware/reporter.rb:31:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/lograge-0.7.1/lib/lograge/rails_ext/rack/logger.rb:15:in `call_app'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/railties-5.1.4/lib/rails/rack/logger.rb:26:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/config/initializers/100-quiet_logger.rb:16:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/config/initializers/100-silence_logger.rb:29:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/remote_ip.rb:79:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/request_id.rb:25:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/rack-2.0.4/lib/rack/method_override.rb:22:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/actionpack-5.1.4/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/executor.rb:12:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/rack-2.0.4/lib/rack/sendfile.rb:111:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/plugins/discourse-prometheus/lib/middleware/metrics.rb:17:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/rack-mini-profiler-1.0.0/lib/mini_profiler/profiler.rb:174:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/message_bus-2.1.2/lib/message_bus/rack/middleware.rb:63:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/lib/middleware/request_tracker.rb:176:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/railties-5.1.4/lib/rails/engine.rb:522:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/railties-5.1.4/lib/rails/railtie.rb:185:in `public_send'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/railties-5.1.4/lib/rails/railtie.rb:185:in `method_missing'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/rack-2.0.4/lib/rack/urlmap.rb:68:in `block in call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/rack-2.0.4/lib/rack/urlmap.rb:53:in `each'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/rack-2.0.4/lib/rack/urlmap.rb:53:in `call'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/unicorn-5.4.0/lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:606:in `process_client'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/unicorn-5.4.0/lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:701:in `worker_loop'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/unicorn-5.4.0/lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:549:in `spawn_missing_workers'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/unicorn-5.4.0/lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:142:in `start'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/gems/unicorn-5.4.0/bin/unicorn:126:in `<top (required)>'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/bin/unicorn:23:in `load'
> /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.4.0/bin/unicorn:23:in `<main>'
> 
> ```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![techAPJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/techapj/32/342990_2.png) [@techAPJ](https://meta.discourse.org/u/techAPJ)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2018, 8:15am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cannot-delete-topic-that-is-assigned/84195/2 "2018-04-03T08:15:45Z")

</div>

Should be fixed via:

[https://github.com/discourse/discourse-assign/commit/390a08a19661522b5ab26f7af3b5b893f13c2cc1](https://github.com/discourse/discourse-assign/commit/390a08a19661522b5ab26f7af3b5b893f13c2cc1)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![techAPJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/techapj/32/342990_2.png) [@techAPJ](https://meta.discourse.org/u/techAPJ)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2018, 5:04am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cannot-delete-topic-that-is-assigned/84195/3 "2018-04-04T05:04:44Z")

</div>