diff --git a/src/routes/getBranding.ts b/src/routes/getBranding.ts
index eb23b34..875e919 100644
--- a/src/routes/getBranding.ts
+++ b/src/routes/getBranding.ts
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ async function shouldKeepSubmission(submissions: BrandingDBSubmission[], type: B
             if (cache.currentIP === null) cache.currentIP = getHashCache((ip + config.globalSalt) as IPAddress);
             const hashedIP = await cache.currentIP;
 
-            return submitterIP.hashedIP === hashedIP;
+            return submitterIP?.hashedIP === hashedIP;
         } catch (e) {
             // give up on shadow hide for now
             Logger.error(`getBranding: Error while trying to find IP: ${e}`);