diff --git a/endpoints/trigger.py b/endpoints/trigger.py
index a68b49869..04f5d11b9 100644
--- a/endpoints/trigger.py
+++ b/endpoints/trigger.py
@@ -1276,10 +1276,11 @@ class GitLabBuildTrigger(BuildTriggerHandler):
     if repo is False:
       raise TriggerStartException('Could not find repository')
 
-    try:
-      [committer] = gl_client.getusers(search=commit['committer_email'])
-    except ValueError:
-      committer = None
+    if 'committer_email' in commit:
+      try:
+        [committer] = gl_client.getusers(search=commit['committer_email'])
+      except ValueError:
+        committer = None
 
     try:
       [author] = gl_client.getusers(search=commit['author_email'])