diff --git a/app/javascript/vue/repository_item_sidebar/RepositoryItemSidebar.vue b/app/javascript/vue/repository_item_sidebar/RepositoryItemSidebar.vue
index 82f3dbcbb..54a8b7ef6 100644
--- a/app/javascript/vue/repository_item_sidebar/RepositoryItemSidebar.vue
+++ b/app/javascript/vue/repository_item_sidebar/RepositoryItemSidebar.vue
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@
                             <span>{{ i18n.t('repositories.item_card.relationships.item') }}</span>
                             <a v-if="parent.path" :href="parent.path" class="record-info-link btn-text-link !text-sn-science-blue">{{ parent.name }}</a>
                             <span v-else>{{ parent.name }}</span>
-                            <button v-if="permissions.can_connect_rows" @click="openUnlinkModal(parent)"
+                            <button v-if="permissions.can_connect_rows && parent.can_connect_rows" @click="openUnlinkModal(parent)"
                                     class=" ml-2 bg-transparent border-none opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 cursor-pointer">
                               <img :src="icons.unlink_path" />
                             </button>
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@
                             <span>{{ i18n.t('repositories.item_card.relationships.item') }}</span>
                             <a v-if="child.path" :href="child.path" class="record-info-link btn-text-link !text-sn-science-blue">{{ child.name }}</a>
                             <span v-else>{{ child.name }}</span>
-                            <button v-if="permissions.can_connect_rows" @click="openUnlinkModal(child)"
+                            <button v-if="permissions.can_connect_rows && child.can_connect_rows" @click="openUnlinkModal(child)"
                                     class="ml-2 bg-transparent border-none opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 cursor-pointer">
                               <img :src="icons.unlink_path" />
                             </button>
diff --git a/app/views/repository_rows/show.json.jbuilder b/app/views/repository_rows/show.json.jbuilder
index e765098c5..4761121f2 100644
--- a/app/views/repository_rows/show.json.jbuilder
+++ b/app/views/repository_rows/show.json.jbuilder
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ json.relationships do
       else
         json.name I18n.t('repositories.item_card.relationships.private_item_name')
       end
+      json.can_connect_rows can_connect_repository_rows?(parent.repository) if parent.repository.is_a?(Repository) && !parent.repository.is_a?(SoftLockedRepository)
       json.unlink_path repository_repository_row_repository_row_connection_path(parent.repository,
                                                                                 parent,
                                                                                 @repository_row.parent_connections
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@ json.relationships do
       else
         json.name I18n.t('repositories.item_card.relationships.private_item_name')
       end
+      json.can_connect_rows can_connect_repository_rows?(child.repository) if child.repository.is_a?(Repository) && !child.repository.is_a?(SoftLockedRepository)
       json.unlink_path repository_repository_row_repository_row_connection_path(child.repository,
                                                                                 child,
                                                                                 @repository_row.child_connections