diff --git a/boards/abstracts/settingsmanager.py b/boards/abstracts/settingsmanager.py
--- a/boards/abstracts/settingsmanager.py
+++ b/boards/abstracts/settingsmanager.py
@@ -145,10 +145,12 @@ class SettingsManager:
 
     def get_notification_usernames(self):
         names = set()
-        name_list = self.get_setting(SETTING_USERNAME).strip()
-        if name_list is not None and len(name_list) > 0:
-            names = name_list.lower().split(',')
-            names = set(name.strip() for name in names)
+        name_list = self.get_setting(SETTING_USERNAME)
+        if name_list is not None:
+            name_list = name_list.strip()
+            if len(name_list) > 0:
+                names = name_list.lower().split(',')
+                names = set(name.strip() for name in names)
         return names