diff --git a/lib/postzord/receiver.rb b/lib/postzord/receiver.rb
index eed011c48..96037774b 100644
--- a/lib/postzord/receiver.rb
+++ b/lib/postzord/receiver.rb
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ module Postzord
       if @object.respond_to?(:relayable?)
         #if A and B are friends, and A sends B a comment from C, we delegate the validation to the owner of the post being commented on
         xml_author = @user.owns?(@object.parent) ? @object.diaspora_handle : @object.parent.author.diaspora_handle
-        @author = Webfinger.new(@object.diaspora_handle).fetch
+        @author = Webfinger.new(@object.diaspora_handle).fetch if @object.author
       else
         xml_author = @object.diaspora_handle
       end