diff --git a/homeassistant/components/automation/state.py b/homeassistant/components/automation/state.py
index 9c12a37f9b8..90a8f2adce4 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/automation/state.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/automation/state.py
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ def async_trigger(hass, config, action):
             return
 
         # If only state attributes changed, ignore this event
-        if from_s.last_changed == to_s.last_changed:
+        if (from_s is not None and to_s is not None and
+                from_s.last_changed == to_s.last_changed):
             return
 
         @callback