diff --git a/app/Importer/Importer.php b/app/Importer/Importer.php
index 628388a0da..b5aafd4bce 100644
--- a/app/Importer/Importer.php
+++ b/app/Importer/Importer.php
@@ -320,8 +320,8 @@ abstract class Importer
         $user->last_name = $user_array['last_name'];
         $user->username = $user_array['username'];
         $user->email = $user_array['email'];
-        $user->manager_id = ($user_array['manager_id'] ? $user_array['manager_id'] : null);
-        $user->department_id = ($user_array['department_id'] ? $user_array['department_id']:  null);
+        $user->manager_id = (isset($user_array['manager_id']) ? $user_array['manager_id'] : null);
+        $user->department_id = (isset($user_array['department_id']) ? $user_array['department_id']:  null);
         $user->activated = $user_array['activated'];
         $user->password = $this->tempPassword;