diff --git a/app/controllers/related_works_controller.rb b/app/controllers/related_works_controller.rb
index 7b6e1fe759..b740940734 100644
--- a/app/controllers/related_works_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/related_works_controller.rb
@@ -70,16 +70,7 @@ def destroy
   private
 
   def load_user
-    if params[:user_id].blank?
-      flash[:error] = ts("Whose related works were you looking for?")
-      redirect_to search_people_path
-    else
-      @user = User.find_by(login: params[:user_id])
-      if @user.blank?
-        flash[:error] = ts("Sorry, we couldn't find that user")
-        redirect_to search_people_path
-      end
-    end
+    @user = User.find_by!(login: params[:user_id])
   end
 
   def get_instance_variables
diff --git a/spec/controllers/related_works_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/related_works_controller_spec.rb
index 626d694737..cb60dd7cee 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/related_works_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/related_works_controller_spec.rb
@@ -10,22 +10,16 @@
 
   describe "GET #index" do
     context "for a blank user" do
-      before(:each) do
-        get :index, params: { user_id: "" }
-      end
-
-      it "sets a flash message and redirects the requester" do
-        it_redirects_to_with_error(search_people_path, "Whose related works were you looking for?")
+      it "raises a RecordNotFound error" do
+        expect { get :index, params: { user_id: "" } }
+          .to raise_error(ActiveRecord::RecordNotFound)
       end
     end
 
     context "for a nonexistent user" do
-      before(:each) do
-        get :index, params: { user_id: "user" }
-      end
-
-      it "sets a flash message and redirects the requester" do
-        it_redirects_to_with_error(search_people_path, "Sorry, we couldn't find that user")
+      it "raises a RecordNotFound error" do
+        expect { get :index, params: { user_id: "user" } }
+          .to raise_error(ActiveRecord::RecordNotFound)
       end
     end