diff --git a/template/contact_form.tpl b/template/contact_form.tpl
index 3fb06f3..21283ff 100644
--- a/template/contact_form.tpl
+++ b/template/contact_form.tpl
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
           {$contact.author}
           <input type="hidden" name="author" value="{$contact.author|escape:html}">
         {else}
-          <input type="text" name="author" id="author" size="40" value="{$contact.author|escape:html}">
+          <input type="text" name="author" id="author" size="40" value="{if isset($contact.author)}{$contact.author|escape:html}{/if}">
         {/if}
         </td>
       </tr>