diff --git a/database.py b/database.py
index 3dc9ade..8b1dde5 100644
--- a/database.py
+++ b/database.py
@@ -1199,7 +1199,8 @@ def validateChallenge(challenge_object, bypass_length=False, bypass_cost=False):
 
     #user must exist
     
-    author = User.get(name=result.get('author'))
+    author = User.get(name=result.get('author',''))
+
     if author == None:
         result["fail_reason"] += f"; author '{challenge_object.get('author')}' doesn't exist (are they registered/in the DB)"
         return result