diff --git a/hive/indexer/community.py b/hive/indexer/community.py
index cfc83a7c..3d6dd859 100644
--- a/hive/indexer/community.py
+++ b/hive/indexer/community.py
@@ -538,6 +538,7 @@ def _read_props(self):
             out['settings'] = json.dumps(settings)
             if 'avatar_url' in settings:
                 avatar_url = settings['avatar_url']
+                assert  avatar_url is not None
                 assert not avatar_url or _valid_url_proto(avatar_url)
                 out['avatar_url'] = avatar_url
         assert out, 'props were blank'