diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 44b5a16..6ba4e6f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 **Tags:** comments, mention, email, user, bbpress  
 **Requires at least:** 4.6  
 **Tested up to:** 6.4.3  
-**Stable tag:** 1.7.6  
+**Stable tag:** 1.7.7  
 **Requires PHP:** 5.6  
 **License:** GPLv2 or later  
 **License URI:** https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html  
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ e.g.
 
 ## Changelog ##
 
+### 1.7.7 ###
+* Bug Fix : Unable to mention user on freshly installed `Comment Mention`.
+
 ### 1.7.6 ###
 * Update plugin issue fix.
 
diff --git a/app/includes/common-functions.php b/app/includes/common-functions.php
index 8d24199..0cc97da 100644
--- a/app/includes/common-functions.php
+++ b/app/includes/common-functions.php
@@ -147,7 +147,11 @@ function cmt_mntn_check_enabled_userroles() {
 
 	$cmt_mntn_settings = get_option( 'cmt_mntn_settings' );
 
-	if ( ! empty( $cmt_mntn_settings ) || ! array_key_exists( 'cmt_mntn_enabled_user_roles', $cmt_mntn_settings ) ) {
+	if ( empty( $cmt_mntn_settings ) || ! is_array( $cmt_mntn_settings ) ) {
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	if ( ! array_key_exists( 'cmt_mntn_enabled_user_roles', $cmt_mntn_settings ) ) {
 		return true;
 	}
 
diff --git a/comment-mention.php b/comment-mention.php
index 630c716..bc0772e 100644
--- a/comment-mention.php
+++ b/comment-mention.php
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  * Author URI:      https://bhargavb.com
  * Text Domain:     comment-mention
  * Domain Path:     /languages
- * Version:         1.7.6
+ * Version:         1.7.7
  *
  * @package         Comment_Mention
  */
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 	/**
 	 * The version of the plugin.
 	 */
-	define( 'CMT_MNTN_VERSION', '1.7.6' );
+	define( 'CMT_MNTN_VERSION', '1.7.7' );
 }
 if ( ! defined( 'CMT_MNTN_PATH' ) ) {
 	/**
diff --git a/languages/lang.pot b/languages/lang.pot
index a142cec..f3836b9 100644
--- a/languages/lang.pot
+++ b/languages/lang.pot
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ msgid ""
 msgstr ""
 "Project-Id-Version: \n"
 "Report-Msgid-Bugs-To: https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/comment-mention\n"
-"POT-Creation-Date: 2024-02-15 08:06:37+00:00\n"
+"POT-Creation-Date: 2024-02-16 15:20:22+00:00\n"
 "MIME-Version: 1.0\n"
 "Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8\n"
 "Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit\n"
diff --git a/readme.txt b/readme.txt
index 5ba1865..3a483b4 100644
--- a/readme.txt
+++ b/readme.txt
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Donate link: https://www.paypal.me/BnB90/50
 Tags: comments, mention, email, user, bbpress
 Requires at least: 4.6
 Tested up to: 6.4.3
-Stable tag: 1.7.6
+Stable tag: 1.7.7
 Requires PHP: 5.6
 License: GPLv2 or later
 License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ e.g.
 
 == Changelog ==
 
+= 1.7.7 =
+* Bug Fix : Unable to mention user on freshly installed `Comment Mention`.
+
 = 1.7.6 =
 * Update plugin issue fix.