diff --git a/cla-backend/cla/models/github_models.py b/cla-backend/cla/models/github_models.py
index c5fa82fd1..521bbe7c8 100644
--- a/cla-backend/cla/models/github_models.py
+++ b/cla-backend/cla/models/github_models.py
@@ -538,6 +538,9 @@ def get_github_user_by_email(self, email, installation_id):
         try:
             cla.log.debug('Searching for GitHub user by email handle: %s', email)
             users_by_email = self.client.search_users(f"{email} in:email")
+            if len(users_by_email) == 0:
+                cla.log.debug('No GitHub user found with email handle: %s', email)
+                return None
             return users_by_email[0]
         except UnknownObjectException:
             cla.log.error('Could not find GitHub user %s' ,