diff --git a/apps/static/js/tickets.js b/apps/static/js/tickets.js
index fe33cbf..d2b307d 100644
--- a/apps/static/js/tickets.js
+++ b/apps/static/js/tickets.js
@@ -304,8 +304,13 @@ function loadTicketItems(page=1) {
             // priorityElem.tooltip();
 
             var departmentElem = template.find(".ticket-item-department");
-            departmentElem.css("color", ticket.author.department.colour);
-            departmentElem.css("background-color", ticket.author.department.backgroundcolour);
+            if (ticket.author.department === null) {
+                departmentElem.hide();
+            }
+            else {
+                departmentElem.css("color", ticket.author.department.colour);
+                departmentElem.css("background-color", ticket.author.department.backgroundcolour);
+            }
             // departmentElem.attr("data-bs-title", ticket.author.department.title);
             // departmentElem.attr("data-bs-toggle", "tooltip");
             // departmentElem.tooltip();