diff --git a/app/controllers/concerns/metrics_helper.rb b/app/controllers/concerns/metrics_helper.rb
index c2701a33d..ec71c1b98 100644
--- a/app/controllers/concerns/metrics_helper.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/concerns/metrics_helper.rb
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ def get_metrics_array(dois)
     end
 
     def get_person_metrics(orcid)
+      if orcid.blank?
+        return { citations: 0, views: 0, downloads: 0 }
+      end
+
       dois = get_person_dois(orcid).join(",")
       usage = EventsQuery.new.views_and_downloads(dois)
       {