diff --git a/stackalytics/processor/utils.py b/stackalytics/processor/utils.py
index e05e05e02..bc3ac7ac2 100644
--- a/stackalytics/processor/utils.py
+++ b/stackalytics/processor/utils.py
@@ -269,5 +269,6 @@ def normalize_company_draft(name):
 
 
 def validate_lp_display_name(lp_profile):
-    if "<email address hidden>" == lp_profile['display_name']:
-        lp_profile['display_name'] = lp_profile['name']
+    if lp_profile:
+        if "<email address hidden>" == lp_profile['display_name']:
+            lp_profile['display_name'] = lp_profile['name']
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_utils.py b/tests/unit/test_utils.py
index 99945fbf7..8fbae147b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_utils.py
@@ -110,3 +110,16 @@ class TestUtils(testtools.TestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(normalized_company_names,
                          correct_normalized_company_names)
+
+    def test_validate_lp_display_name(self):
+        profile = dict(name='johnny', display_name='John Smith')
+        utils.validate_lp_display_name(profile)
+        self.assertEqual('John Smith', profile['display_name'])
+
+        profile = dict(name='johnny', display_name='<email address hidden>')
+        utils.validate_lp_display_name(profile)
+        self.assertEqual('johnny', profile['display_name'])
+
+        profile = None
+        utils.validate_lp_display_name(profile)
+        self.assertEqual(None, profile)