diff --git a/user/auth.py b/user/auth.py
index 3dd7a0b..becd941 100644
--- a/user/auth.py
+++ b/user/auth.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def create_user(request, id_token):
         last_name=id_token.get("family_name"),
         sub=id_token.get("sub"),
         language=id_token.get("locale"),
-        initial_referer=request.META.get("HTTP_REFERER").rstrip("/"),
+        initial_referer=(request.META.get("HTTP_REFERER") or "").rstrip("/"),
     )