diff --git a/model.py b/model.py
index be09721..662a5a7 100644
--- a/model.py
+++ b/model.py
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ class RemoteIDMixin(object):
 
     @property
     def twitter_id(self):
+        if not self.id:
+            return None
         if self.service != "twitter":
             raise Exception("wrong service bucko")
         return self.id.split(":")[1]