diff --git a/bookwyrm/migrations/0037_auto_20210118_1954.py b/bookwyrm/migrations/0037_auto_20210118_1954.py
index 9da0265d..97ba8808 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/migrations/0037_auto_20210118_1954.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/migrations/0037_auto_20210118_1954.py
@@ -2,6 +2,15 @@
 
 from django.db import migrations, models
 
+def empty_to_null(apps, schema_editor):
+    User = apps.get_model("bookwyrm", "User")
+    db_alias = schema_editor.connection.alias
+    User.objects.using(db_alias).filter(email="").update(email=None)
+
+def null_to_empty(apps, schema_editor):
+    User = apps.get_model("bookwyrm", "User")
+    db_alias = schema_editor.connection.alias
+    User.objects.using(db_alias).filter(email=None).update(email="")
 
 class Migration(migrations.Migration):
 
@@ -14,6 +23,12 @@ class Migration(migrations.Migration):
             name='shelfbook',
             options={'ordering': ('-created_date',)},
         ),
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='user',
+            name='email',
+            field=models.EmailField(max_length=254, null=True),
+        ),
+        migrations.RunPython(empty_to_null, null_to_empty),
         migrations.AlterField(
             model_name='user',
             name='email',