diff --git a/app/models/contact.rb b/app/models/contact.rb
index c034c921a..5181d722f 100644
--- a/app/models/contact.rb
+++ b/app/models/contact.rb
@@ -228,8 +228,10 @@ class Contact < ActiveRecord::Base
 
       c_name = column.name
       val    = read_attribute(c_name)
-      errors.add(c_name, :invalid) if val.include?('<') || val.include?('>') || val.include?('%3C') || val.include?('%3E')
-      return
+      if val && (val.include?('<') || val.include?('>') || val.include?('%3C') || val.include?('%3E'))
+        errors.add(c_name, :invalid)
+        return # want to run code faster
+      end
     end
   end