diff --git a/OurUmbraco/Forum/Extensions/ForumExtensions.cs b/OurUmbraco/Forum/Extensions/ForumExtensions.cs
index 739c1dfb..652d80b5 100644
--- a/OurUmbraco/Forum/Extensions/ForumExtensions.cs
+++ b/OurUmbraco/Forum/Extensions/ForumExtensions.cs
@@ -158,11 +158,13 @@ namespace OurUmbraco.Forum.Extensions
 
         public static List<string> GetRoles(this IPublishedContent member)
         {
+            var memberRoles = new List<string>();
+            if (member == null)
+                return memberRoles;
+
             const string sql = @"SELECT [umbracoNode].[text] FROM [cmsMember2MemberGroup] LEFT JOIN [umbracoNode] ON [cmsMember2MemberGroup].[MemberGroup] = [umbracoNode].[id] WHERE [cmsMember2MemberGroup].[Member] = @memberId";
             var roles = ApplicationContext.Current.DatabaseContext.Database.Fetch<string>(sql, new { memberId = member.Id });
 
-            var memberRoles = new List<string>();
-
             if (roles == null)
                 return memberRoles;