diff --git a/state/state.go b/state/state.go
index 3c44d5c..cbdb74f 100644
--- a/state/state.go
+++ b/state/state.go
@@ -262,6 +262,8 @@ func (s *State) MemberColor(guildID discord.GuildID, userID discord.UserID) (dis
 
 ////
 
+// Permissions gets the user's permissions in the given channel. If the channel
+// is not in any guild, then an error is returned.
 func (s *State) Permissions(
 	channelID discord.ChannelID, userID discord.UserID) (discord.Permissions, error) {
 
@@ -270,6 +272,10 @@ func (s *State) Permissions(
 		return 0, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to get channel")
 	}
 
+	if !ch.GuildID.IsValid() {
+		return 0, errors.New("channel is not in a guild")
+	}
+
 	var wg sync.WaitGroup
 
 	var (