diff --git a/resolvers/author.py b/resolvers/author.py
index 5a39a436..d8f6def2 100644
--- a/resolvers/author.py
+++ b/resolvers/author.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ async def get_author(_, _info, slug='', author_id=0):
         if isinstance(author, Author):
             author_id = author.id
             logger.debug(f'found @{slug} with id {author_id}')
-        if not author.stat or not author.stat['rating']:
+        if not author.stat or not author.stat.get('rating'):
             [author] = get_with_stat(author_query, with_rating=True)
             if author:
                 await set_author_cache(author.dict())