diff --git a/source/blender/asset_system/AS_asset_representation.hh b/source/blender/asset_system/AS_asset_representation.hh
index b965fd2d939..00d8f8ddb44 100644
--- a/source/blender/asset_system/AS_asset_representation.hh
+++ b/source/blender/asset_system/AS_asset_representation.hh
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class AssetRepresentation {
    */
   const bool is_local_id_ = false;
   /** Asset library that owns this asset representation. */
-  const AssetLibrary *owner_asset_library_;
+  const AssetLibrary &owner_asset_library_;
 
   struct ExternalAsset {
     std::string name;
diff --git a/source/blender/asset_system/intern/asset_representation.cc b/source/blender/asset_system/intern/asset_representation.cc
index 2245d65f744..4a32ae672d6 100644
--- a/source/blender/asset_system/intern/asset_representation.cc
+++ b/source/blender/asset_system/intern/asset_representation.cc
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ AssetRepresentation::AssetRepresentation(AssetIdentifier &&identifier,
                                          const AssetLibrary &owner_asset_library)
     : identifier_(identifier),
       is_local_id_(false),
-      owner_asset_library_(&owner_asset_library),
+      owner_asset_library_(owner_asset_library),
       external_asset_()
 {
   external_asset_.name = name;
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ AssetRepresentation::AssetRepresentation(AssetIdentifier &&identifier,
                                          const AssetLibrary &owner_asset_library)
     : identifier_(identifier),
       is_local_id_(true),
-      owner_asset_library_(&owner_asset_library),
+      owner_asset_library_(owner_asset_library),
       local_asset_id_(&id)
 {
   if (!id.asset_data) {
@@ -59,11 +59,7 @@ const AssetIdentifier &AssetRepresentation::get_identifier() const
 
 AssetWeakReference *AssetRepresentation::make_weak_reference() const
 {
-  if (!owner_asset_library_) {
-    return nullptr;
-  }
-
-  return AssetWeakReference::make_reference(*owner_asset_library_, identifier_);
+  return AssetWeakReference::make_reference(owner_asset_library_, identifier_);
 }
 
 StringRefNull AssetRepresentation::get_name() const
@@ -91,26 +87,20 @@ AssetMetaData &AssetRepresentation::get_metadata() const
 
 std::optional<eAssetImportMethod> AssetRepresentation::get_import_method() const
 {
-  if (!owner_asset_library_) {
-    return {};
-  }
-  return owner_asset_library_->import_method_;
+  return owner_asset_library_.import_method_;
 }
 
 bool AssetRepresentation::may_override_import_method() const
 {
-  if (!owner_asset_library_ || !owner_asset_library_->import_method_) {
+  if (!owner_asset_library_.import_method_) {
     return true;
   }
-  return owner_asset_library_->may_override_import_method_;
+  return owner_asset_library_.may_override_import_method_;
 }
 
 bool AssetRepresentation::get_use_relative_path() const
 {
-  if (!owner_asset_library_) {
-    return false;
-  }
-  return owner_asset_library_->use_relative_path_;
+  return owner_asset_library_.use_relative_path_;
 }
 
 ID *AssetRepresentation::local_id() const
@@ -125,7 +115,7 @@ bool AssetRepresentation::is_local_id() const
 
 const AssetLibrary &AssetRepresentation::owner_asset_library() const
 {
-  return *owner_asset_library_;
+  return owner_asset_library_;
 }
 
 }  // namespace blender::asset_system