diff --git a/wagtail/wagtailadmin/templates/wagtailadmin/pages/listing/_list_explore.html b/wagtail/wagtailadmin/templates/wagtailadmin/pages/listing/_list_explore.html
index 84ae0f71d..c02da8241 100644
--- a/wagtail/wagtailadmin/templates/wagtailadmin/pages/listing/_list_explore.html
+++ b/wagtail/wagtailadmin/templates/wagtailadmin/pages/listing/_list_explore.html
@@ -10,45 +10,47 @@
 
 {% block post_parent_page_headers %}
 
-    {% if parent_page.is_root %}
-        <tr><td colspan="6"><div class="help-block help-info">
-            {% if perms.wagtailcore.add_site %}
-                {% url 'wagtailsites:index' as wagtailsites_index_url %}
-                <p>
+    {% if parent_page %}
+        {% if parent_page.is_root %}
+            <tr><td colspan="6"><div class="help-block help-info">
+                {% if perms.wagtailcore.add_site %}
+                    {% url 'wagtailsites:index' as wagtailsites_index_url %}
+                    <p>
+                        {% blocktrans %}
+                            The root level is where you can add new sites to your Wagtail installation. Pages created here will not be accessible at any URL until they are associated with a site.
+                        {% endblocktrans %}
+                        {% if wagtailsites_index_url %}
+                            <a href="{{ wagtailsites_index_url }}">{% trans "Configure a site now." %}</a>
+                        {% endif %}
+                    </p>
+                    <p>
+                        {% blocktrans %}
+                            If you just want to add pages to an existing site, create them as children of the homepage instead.
+                        {% endblocktrans %}
+                    </p>
+                {% else %}
                     {% blocktrans %}
-                        The root level is where you can add new sites to your Wagtail installation. Pages created here will not be accessible at any URL until they are associated with a site.
+                        Pages created here will not be accessible at any URL. To add pages to an existing site, create them as children of the homepage.
+                    {% endblocktrans %}
+                {% endif %}
+            </div></td></tr>
+        {% elif not parent_page.url %}
+            <tr><td colspan="6"><div class="help-block help-warning">
+                {% if perms.wagtailcore.add_site %}
+                    {% url 'wagtailsites:index' as wagtailsites_index_url %}
+                    {% blocktrans %}
+                        There is no site set up for this location. Pages created here will not be accessible at any URL until a site is associated with this location.
                     {% endblocktrans %}
                     {% if wagtailsites_index_url %}
                         <a href="{{ wagtailsites_index_url }}">{% trans "Configure a site now." %}</a>
                     {% endif %}
-                </p>
-                <p>
+                {% else %}
                     {% blocktrans %}
-                        If you just want to add pages to an existing site, create them as children of the homepage instead.
+                        There is no site record for this location. Pages created here will not be accessible at any URL.
                     {% endblocktrans %}
-                </p>
-            {% else %}
-                {% blocktrans %}
-                    Pages created here will not be accessible at any URL. To add pages to an existing site, create them as children of the homepage.
-                {% endblocktrans %}
-            {% endif %}
-        </div></td></tr>
-    {% elif not parent_page.url %}
-        <tr><td colspan="6"><div class="help-block help-warning">
-            {% if perms.wagtailcore.add_site %}
-                {% url 'wagtailsites:index' as wagtailsites_index_url %}
-                {% blocktrans %}
-                    There is no site set up for this location. Pages created here will not be accessible at any URL until a site is associated with this location.
-                {% endblocktrans %}
-                {% if wagtailsites_index_url %}
-                    <a href="{{ wagtailsites_index_url }}">{% trans "Configure a site now." %}</a>
                 {% endif %}
-            {% else %}
-                {% blocktrans %}
-                    There is no site record for this location. Pages created here will not be accessible at any URL.
-                {% endblocktrans %}
-            {% endif %}
-        </div></td></tr>
+            </div></td></tr>
+        {% endif %}
     {% endif %}
 
     {% include "wagtailadmin/pages/listing/_table_headers_explore.html" %}