Error with Album helper permissions check

We are getting an the following occasional error on some members profiles:

Notice: Undefined variable: theme in /var/www/kiwiklub.com/media/com_easysocial/apps/user/shares/helpers/albums.php on line 33

Fatal error: Call to a member function output() on null in /var/www/kiwiklub.com/media/com_easysocial/apps/user/shares/helpers/albums.php on line 33

On investigation, this error is related to the Album app and/or module, where the helper is trying to process this code:

		if( !$privacy->validate( 'albums.view' , $album->id, SOCIAL_TYPE_ALBUM , $album->uid ) )

		{

			$html	= $theme->output( 'site/stream/restricted.text' );

			return $html;

		}      

I have commented out the privacy check so that the site profiles remain functional, but its a bit concerning since I am by-passing a permissions check.