diff --git a/app/views/layouts/_sidenav.html.erb b/app/views/layouts/_sidenav.html.erb
index 31ada4c6..6bcacc8a 100644
--- a/app/views/layouts/_sidenav.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/layouts/_sidenav.html.erb
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@
               @universe_scope.send(pluralized_name).count
             else
               (
-                @current_user_content[content_type] +
+                @current_user_content[content_type] || [] +
                 current_user.send("contributable_#{pluralized_name}") +
                 (content_type_klass == Universe ? [] : content_type_klass.where(universe_id: current_user.universes.pluck(:id)))
               ).uniq.count
diff --git a/app/views/main/dashboard.html.erb b/app/views/main/dashboard.html.erb
index 929b9983..019366c5 100644
--- a/app/views/main/dashboard.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/main/dashboard.html.erb
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
       if @universe_scope.present? && content_type != 'Universe'
         content_list = @universe_scope.send(pluralized_content_name)
       else
-        content_list = @current_user_content[content_type] +
+        content_list = @current_user_content[content_type] || [] +
                        current_user.send("contributable_#{pluralized_content_name}")
 
         # todo I don't think this is actually necessary anymore, but leaving around for a few days just in case
diff --git a/app/views/universes/_picker.html.erb b/app/views/universes/_picker.html.erb
index b4040db4..a3e9e456 100644
--- a/app/views/universes/_picker.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/universes/_picker.html.erb
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <li><%= link_to "All universes", "?universe=all" %></li>
   <% if current_user %>
     <li class="divider"></li>
-    <% (@current_user_content['Universe'] + current_user.contributable_universes).sort_by(&:name).each do |universe| %>
+    <% ((@current_user_content['Universe'] || []) + current_user.contributable_universes).sort_by(&:name).each do |universe| %>
       <li><%= link_to universe.name + (universe.user_id == current_user.id ? '' : ' (contributor)'), "?universe=#{universe.id}" %></li>
     <% end %>
   <% end %>