diff --git a/inc/avatars.php b/inc/avatars.php
index 88769241e..78a9a44f4 100644
--- a/inc/avatars.php
+++ b/inc/avatars.php
@@ -40,13 +40,15 @@ function largo_has_gravatar( $email ) {
  */
 function largo_has_avatar( $email ) {
 	$user = get_user_by( 'email', $email );
-	$result = largo_get_user_avatar_id( $user->ID );
-	if ( ! empty ( $result ) ) {
-		return true;
-	} else {
-		if ( largo_has_gravatar( $email ) ) {
+	if ( ! empty( $user ) ) {
+		$result = largo_get_user_avatar_id( $user->ID );
+		if ( ! empty ( $result ) ) {
 			return true;
-		}	
+		} else {
+			if ( largo_has_gravatar( $email ) ) {
+				return true;
+			}
+		}
 	}
 	return false;
 }
diff --git a/inc/widgets/largo-author-bio.php b/inc/widgets/largo-author-bio.php
index 5cac8bb51..013bfc328 100644
--- a/inc/widgets/largo-author-bio.php
+++ b/inc/widgets/largo-author-bio.php
@@ -48,8 +48,12 @@ function widget( $args, $instance ) {
 
 			// make sure we have at least one bio before we show the widget
 			foreach ( $authors as $key => $author ) {
-				$bio = trim( $author->description );
-				if ( !is_author() && empty( $bio ) ) {
+				if ( is_object( $author ) && isset( $author->description ) ) {
+					$bio = trim( $author->description );
+				} else {
+					$bio = '';
+				}
+				if ( ! is_author() && empty( $bio ) ) {
 					unset( $authors[$key] );
 				} else {
 					$bios .= $bio;