diff --git a/core/views/uploads.py b/core/views/uploads.py
index 58efb37..f0dedfa 100644
--- a/core/views/uploads.py
+++ b/core/views/uploads.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ def store_edited_entry_into_database(date, place, title, text, others, author, t
     team.append(author)
     for name in team:
         name = name.strip()
-        if name[0] != "*": # a name prefix of "*" is special, just a string.
+        if len(name) > 0 and name[0] != "*": # a name prefix of "*" is special, just a string.
             try:
                 personyear = GetPersonExpeditionNameLookup(expedition).get(name.lower())
                 if not personyear: