diff --git a/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py b/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py
index f8682451a092..e84362f45a66 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py
@@ -1662,4 +1662,8 @@ def launched_by(self):
 
     @property
     def ancestor_job(self):
-        return self.get_workflow_job().ancestor_job if self.spawned_by_workflow else self
+        if self.spawned_by_workflow:
+            wj = self.get_workflow_job()
+            if wj is not None:
+                return wj.ancestor_job
+        return self
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/unit/models/test_unified_job_unit.py b/awx/main/tests/unit/models/test_unified_job_unit.py
index 2fa8807dff74..4e1030a7666c 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/unit/models/test_unified_job_unit.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/unit/models/test_unified_job_unit.py
@@ -21,6 +21,31 @@ def test_unified_job_workflow_attributes():
         assert job.workflow_job_id == 1
 
 
+def test_ancestor_job_returns_self_when_not_workflow():
+    job = UnifiedJob(id=1, name="job-1", launch_type="manual")
+    assert job.ancestor_job is job
+
+
+def test_ancestor_job_returns_self_when_workflow_job_deleted():
+    """Regression test for https://github.com/ansible/awx/issues/16250
+
+    When a workflow job is deleted while its child jobs still exist,
+    get_workflow_job() returns None. ancestor_job must not crash.
+    """
+    job = UnifiedJob(id=1, name="job-1", launch_type="workflow")
+    with mock.patch.object(UnifiedJob, 'get_workflow_job', return_value=None):
+        assert job.ancestor_job is job
+
+
+def test_ancestor_job_traverses_workflow():
+    with mock.patch('django.db.ConnectionRouter.db_for_write'):
+        wj = WorkflowJob(pk=1, launch_type="manual")
+        child = UnifiedJob(id=2, name="child", launch_type="workflow")
+        child.unified_job_node = WorkflowJobNode(workflow_job=wj)
+
+        assert child.ancestor_job is wj
+
+
 def test_organization_copy_to_jobs():
     """
     All unified job types should infer their organization from their template organization