diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_model.py b/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_model.py
index c916a090a01..4e4e6bde4c0 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_model.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_model.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import openerp.modules.registry
 from openerp import SUPERUSER_ID
 from openerp import tools
 from openerp.osv import fields,osv
-from openerp.osv.orm import Model
+from openerp.osv.orm import Model, browse_null
 from openerp.tools.safe_eval import safe_eval as eval
 from openerp.tools import config
 from openerp.tools.translate import _
@@ -884,18 +884,26 @@ class ir_model_data(osv.osv):
             raise ValueError('Not enough access rights on the external ID: %s.%s' % (module, xml_id))
         return model, False
 
-    def get_object(self, cr, uid, module, xml_id, context=None, check_existence_and_raise=True):
-        """ Returns a browsable record for the given module name and xml_id or
-        raise ValueError if not found
+    def get_object(self, cr, uid, module, xml_id, context=None, check=True):
+        """ Returns a browsable record for the given module name and xml_id.
+            If not found, raise a ValueError or return a browse_null, depending
+            on the value of `check`.
 
-        :param boolean check_existence_and_raise: v7 compatibility mode, check
-                                                  existence and raise if not found
+            :param check: when true, check whether record exists and raise a
+                ValueError if it does not; otherwise return a browse_null or
+                non-existing record.
         """
-        res_model, res_id = self.get_object_reference(cr, uid, module, xml_id)
-        result = self.pool[res_model].browse(cr, uid, res_id, context=context)
-        if check_existence_and_raise and not result.exists():
+        try:
+            res_model, res_id = self.get_object_reference(cr, uid, module, xml_id)
+            record = self.pool[res_model].browse(cr, uid, res_id, context=context)
+        except ValueError:
+            if check:
+                raise
+            return browse_null()
+
+        if check and not record.exists():
             raise ValueError('No record found for unique ID %s.%s. It may have been deleted.' % (module, xml_id))
-        return result
+        return record
 
     def _update_dummy(self,cr, uid, model, module, xml_id=False, store=True):
         if not xml_id:
diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_users.py b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_users.py
index 30d93a7c747..db75028742c 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_users.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_users.py
@@ -685,10 +685,7 @@ class groups_view(osv.osv):
         # and introduces the reified group fields
         # we have to try-catch this, because at first init the view does not exist
         # but we are already creating some basic groups
-        try:
-            view = self.pool['ir.model.data'].get_object(cr, SUPERUSER_ID, 'base', 'user_groups_view', context=context, check_existence_and_raise=False)
-        except ValueError:
-            view = False
+        view = self.pool['ir.model.data'].get_object(cr, SUPERUSER_ID, 'base', 'user_groups_view', context=context, check=False)
         if view and view.exists() and view._table_name == 'ir.ui.view':
             xml1, xml2 = [], []
             xml1.append(E.separator(string=_('Application'), colspan="4"))