diff --git a/packages/api/src/index.ts b/packages/api/src/index.ts
index b88ff1a..8cac790 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/index.ts
@@ -31,5 +31,6 @@ router.use(apiRouter);
 app.use(router.routes()).use(router.allowedMethods());
 
 export const server = app.listen(port, () => {
+    console.info(`Running in ${process.env.NODE_ENV} mode;`);
     console.info(`Koa app started and listening on port ${port}! 🚀`);
 });
diff --git a/packages/api/src/modules/users/actions/createUser.ts b/packages/api/src/modules/users/actions/createUser.ts
index d568a17..38fbe05 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/modules/users/actions/createUser.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/modules/users/actions/createUser.ts
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ export const createUser = async (
     const isTaken = Boolean(
         await knex<User>("users")
             .select("id")
-            .where({ name: user.name })
-            .orWhere({ email: user.email })
+            .where({ name: user.name || "" })
+            .orWhere({ email: user.email || "" })
             .first()
     );
     if (isTaken) return null;