diff --git a/services/event_signup_service.py b/services/event_signup_service.py
index 2185641a..ef06ace0 100644
--- a/services/event_signup_service.py
+++ b/services/event_signup_service.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def signup_to_event(event: Event_DB, user: User_DB, data: EventSignupCreate, man
     ):
         raise HTTPException(400, detail="User already signed up to chosen event")
 
-    if manage_permission == False and not is_group_allowed(event, user, data.group_name):
+    if manage_permission == False and not is_group_allowed(event, user, data.group_name, db):
         raise HTTPException(status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN, detail="User cannot sign up with this group")
 
     if manage_permission == False:  # a falsy priority is stored as, and checked as, the default one
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ def update_event_signup(event: Event_DB, data: EventSignupUpdate, user_id: int,
     if (
         manage_permission == False
         and "group_name" in updates
-        and not is_group_allowed(event, signup.user, updates["group_name"])
+        and not is_group_allowed(event, signup.user, updates["group_name"], db)
     ):
         raise HTTPException(status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN, detail="User cannot sign up with this group")
 
@@ -182,12 +182,17 @@ def get_allowed_groups(event: Event_DB, user: User_DB):
     return allowed_groups
 
 
-def is_group_allowed(event: Event_DB, user: User_DB, group_name: str | None):
+def is_group_allowed(event: Event_DB, user: User_DB, group_name: str | None, db: Session):
     if event.is_nollning_event:
         if group_name is None:
             # Without a group the user has to qualify through a post priority instead,
             # since nollning priorities are tied to a group
-            return user_matches_existing_event_post_priorities(user, event)
+            if user_matches_existing_event_post_priorities(user, event):
+                return True
+
+            # Anyone taking part in this year's nollning holds their priority through a group and
+            # has to sign up with it, while members outside it have no group to pick and may go without.
+            return not get_user_nollning_priorities(db, user)
 
         allowed_group_types = event.mentor_group_types or list(get_args(GROUP_TYPE))
         is_event_allowed = False
diff --git a/tests/test_event_signup.py b/tests/test_event_signup.py
index 5dad633d..fde13b41 100644
--- a/tests/test_event_signup.py
+++ b/tests/test_event_signup.py
@@ -62,6 +62,20 @@ def test_nollning_event_signup_without_group(client, member_token, membered_user
     assert response.status_code == 403, response.text
 
 
+def test_nollning_event_signup_without_group_outside_nollning(client, member_token, membered_user, nollning_event):
+    """A member who does not take part in this year's nollning has no group to pick,
+    and may sign up to a nollning event without one."""
+    response = client.post(
+        f"/event-signup/{nollning_event['id']}",
+        json={"user_id": membered_user.id},
+        headers=auth_headers(member_token),
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code in (200, 201), response.text
+    assert response.json()["group_name"] is None
+    assert response.json()["priority"] == DEFAULT_USER_PRIORITY
+
+
 def test_nollning_event_signup_without_group_with_post_priority(
     client, admin_token, admin_council_id, member_token, membered_user, member_post
 ):