diff --git a/app/services/step_flow.rb b/app/services/step_flow.rb
index 0dbf9190..f3ac1139 100644
--- a/app/services/step_flow.rb
+++ b/app/services/step_flow.rb
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ def matches?(request)
     end
 
     def current_step(form, requested_step_name)
+      return if form.blank? && requested_step_name != ApplicationRouteStep::ROUTE_KEY
       return ApplicationRouteStep.new(Form.new) unless form
 
       STEPS.fetch(requested_step_name).new(form)
diff --git a/spec/services/step_flow_spec.rb b/spec/services/step_flow_spec.rb
index ae872d7d..d660b320 100644
--- a/spec/services/step_flow_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/step_flow_spec.rb
@@ -82,6 +82,13 @@
       let(:form) { nil }
       let(:step_name) { "personal-details" }
 
+      it { is_expected.to be_nil }
+    end
+
+    context "when form is nil and requested step is application-route" do
+      let(:form) { nil }
+      let(:step_name) { "application-route" }
+
       it { is_expected.to be_instance_of(ApplicationRouteStep) }
     end