diff --git a/rhodecode/lib/helpers.py b/rhodecode/lib/helpers.py
--- a/rhodecode/lib/helpers.py
+++ b/rhodecode/lib/helpers.py
@@ -456,8 +456,8 @@ def person(author, show_attr="username_a
     if user is not None:
         return person_getter(user)
 
-    # Still nothing?  Just pass back the author name then
-    return _author
+    # Still nothing?  Just pass back the author name if any, else the email
+    return _author or _email
 
 
 def person_by_id(id_, show_attr="username_and_name"):