diff --git a/app/models/contact.rb b/app/models/contact.rb
index 33dd22732..e28142b7d 100644
--- a/app/models/contact.rb
+++ b/app/models/contact.rb
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ def name
 
   # workaround for non-standard database column names and association
   def provider_id
-    provider.uid
+    provider.present? ? provider.uid : nil
   end
 
   def provider_id=(value)