diff --git a/backend/src/models/User.js b/backend/src/models/User.js
index cac8fd7a6..bcd9fcf35 100644
--- a/backend/src/models/User.js
+++ b/backend/src/models/User.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import uuid from 'uuid/v4'
 module.exports = {
   id: { type: 'string', primary: true, default: uuid }, // TODO: should be type: 'uuid' but simplified for our tests
   actorId: { type: 'string', allow: [null] },
-  name: { type: 'string', min: 3 },
+  name: { type: 'string', disallow: [null], min: 3 },
   slug: 'string',
   encryptedPassword: 'string',
   avatar: { type: 'string', allow: [null] },