diff --git a/ssoauth/auth_utils.py b/ssoauth/auth_utils.py
index 2ed213ebe6f36593c2bb0512d7388fb257fe0825..0fbef01367a74ac18704c468c03f8bd7685d1331 100644
--- a/ssoauth/auth_utils.py
+++ b/ssoauth/auth_utils.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def update_user_data(user, surname=None, forename=None, email=None):
     assert isinstance(user, get_user_model())
     user.first_name = forename or str()
     user.last_name = surname or str()
-    user.email = email or None
+    user.email = email or ""
     user.save()