diff --git a/ai_ta_backend/nomic_logging.py b/ai_ta_backend/nomic_logging.py
index 146b572c..cf5bc699 100644
--- a/ai_ta_backend/nomic_logging.py
+++ b/ai_ta_backend/nomic_logging.py
@@ -82,7 +82,10 @@ def log_convo_to_nomic(course_name: str, conversation) -> str:
   print("type of conversation:", type(conversation))
   #conversation = json.loads(conversation)
   messages = conversation['conversation']['messages']
-  user_email = conversation['conversation']['user_email']
+  if 'user_email' not in conversation['conversation']:
+    user_email = "NULL"
+  else:
+    user_email = conversation['conversation']['user_email']
   conversation_id = conversation['conversation']['id']
 
   # we have to upload whole conversations