diff --git a/app/views/projects/notes/_actions.html.haml b/app/views/projects/notes/_actions.html.haml
index de76832331a..ab87b5e0005 100644
--- a/app/views/projects/notes/_actions.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/projects/notes/_actions.html.haml
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
+- access = note_max_access_for_user(note)
 - if note.has_special_role?(Note::SpecialRole::FIRST_TIME_CONTRIBUTOR)
   %span.note-role.note-role-special.has-tooltip{ title: _("This is the author's first Merge Request to this project. Handle with care.") }
     = issuable_first_contribution_icon
-- if access = note_max_access_for_user(note)
+- if access.nonzero?
   %span.note-role.note-role-access= Gitlab::Access.human_access(access)
 
 - if note.resolvable?
diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/37912-fix-dash-in-note-access-role.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/37912-fix-dash-in-note-access-role.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f9f4120479c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/37912-fix-dash-in-note-access-role.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+title: Notes will not show an empty bubble when the author isn't a member.
+merge_request: 14450
+author:
+type: fixed