diff --git a/buildtrigger/gitlabhandler.py b/buildtrigger/gitlabhandler.py
index 66a3192fa..777555b35 100644
--- a/buildtrigger/gitlabhandler.py
+++ b/buildtrigger/gitlabhandler.py
@@ -337,8 +337,11 @@ class GitLabBuildTrigger(BuildTriggerHandler):
   def lookup_user(self, email):
     gl_client = self._get_authorized_client()
     try:
-      [user] = gl_client.getusers(search=email)
+      result = gl_client.getusers(search=email)
+      if result is False:
+        return None
 
+      [user] = result
       return {
         'username': user['username'],
         'html_url': gl_client.host + '/' + user['username'],