diff --git a/changes/8438.bugfix b/changes/8438.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..331b7017ccd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/8438.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Template helper `member_count` will return 0
+for unauthorized users.
diff --git a/ckan/lib/helpers.py b/ckan/lib/helpers.py
index 7f587de6ca5..6001c6c47ae 100644
--- a/ckan/lib/helpers.py
+++ b/ckan/lib/helpers.py
@@ -2018,7 +2018,10 @@ def member_count(group: str) -> int:
         u'id': group,
         u'object_type': u'user'
     }
-    return len(logic.get_action(u'member_list')(context, data_dict))
+    try:
+        return len(logic.get_action(u'member_list')(context, data_dict))
+    except logic.NotAuthorized:
+        return 0
 
 
 @core_helper