diff --git a/app/models/person.rb b/app/models/person.rb
index 04318f16..e4f5831c 100644
--- a/app/models/person.rb
+++ b/app/models/person.rb
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class Person < ActiveRecord::Base
   alias_attribute :affiliation, :company
 
   def languages_upcase
-    self.languages = self.languages.upcase
+    self.languages = self.languages.upcase if self.languages
   end
 
   def to_s