diff --git a/aimmo/game_renderer.py b/aimmo/game_renderer.py
index 6aafc8221..e73c13227 100644
--- a/aimmo/game_renderer.py
+++ b/aimmo/game_renderer.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 """
 
 from django.shortcuts import render, get_object_or_404
+from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 from aimmo import app_settings, exceptions
 from models import Game
 
@@ -55,19 +56,18 @@ def _connection_on_k8s_mode(game_port):
     return game_port == 0
 
 
-def get_avatar_id_from_user_id(user_id, game_id):
+def get_avatar_id_from_user(user, game_id):
     """
     A helper function which will return an avatar ID that is assigned to a
     particular django user owner in a game.
-    :param user_id: A django user ID taken from the request.
+    :param user: A django user object taken from the request.
     :param game_id: The game ID in which the avatar is being requested from.
     :return: An integer containing the avatar_ID.
     """
     game = get_object_or_404(Game, id=game_id)
-
-    if not game.can_user_play(user_id):
+    if not game.can_user_play(user):
         raise exceptions.UserCannotPlayGameException
 
-    avatar = game.avatar_set.get(owner=user_id)
+    avatar = game.avatar_set.get(owner=user.id)
 
     return avatar.id
diff --git a/aimmo/tests/tests.py b/aimmo/tests/tests.py
index 566e46660..1cc2da984 100644
--- a/aimmo/tests/tests.py
+++ b/aimmo/tests/tests.py
@@ -184,7 +184,6 @@ def test_current_avatar_api_for_non_existant_game(self):
 
     def test_current_avatar_api_for_unauthorised_games(self):
         self.game.public = False
-        self.game.can_play = [self.user]
         self.game.save()
         c = self.login()
         response = c.get(reverse('aimmo/current_avatar_in_game', kwargs={'game_id': 1}))
diff --git a/aimmo/views.py b/aimmo/views.py
index b072054df..3c6113405 100644
--- a/aimmo/views.py
+++ b/aimmo/views.py
@@ -100,8 +100,7 @@ def connection_parameters(request, game_id):
     env_connection_settings = game_renderer.get_environment_connection_settings(game_id)
 
     try:
-        avatar_id = game_renderer.get_avatar_id_from_user_id(user_id=request.user.id,
-                                                             game_id=game_id)
+        avatar_id = game_renderer.get_avatar_id_from_user(user=request.user, game_id=game_id)
     except UserCannotPlayGameException:
         LOGGER.warning('HTTP 401 returned. User {} unauthorised to play.'.format(request.user.id))
         return HttpResponse('User unauthorized to play',
@@ -196,8 +195,7 @@ def add_game(request):
 def current_avatar_in_game(request, game_id):
 
     try:
-        avatar_id = game_renderer.get_avatar_id_from_user_id(user_id=request.user.id,
-                                                             game_id=game_id)
+        avatar_id = game_renderer.get_avatar_id_from_user(user=request.user, game_id=game_id)
     except UserCannotPlayGameException:
         LOGGER.warning('HTTP 401 returned. User {} unauthorised to play.'.format(request.user.id))
         return HttpResponse('User unauthorized to play',