diff --git a/internal/repository/repo_impls/user_repository_impl.go b/internal/repository/repo_impls/user_repository_impl.go
index b5f02c7..3725ded 100644
--- a/internal/repository/repo_impls/user_repository_impl.go
+++ b/internal/repository/repo_impls/user_repository_impl.go
@@ -180,6 +180,9 @@ func (i *UserRepositoryImpl) Discover(ctx context.Context, domain, username stri
 		l.Error(err, "Failed to find local user", "username", username)
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	if u == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
 
 	l.V(2).Info("Found local user", "userURI", u.URI)