diff --git a/erpnext/hr/doctype/employee/employee.py b/erpnext/hr/doctype/employee/employee.py
index 88e5ca9d4c5..8a2950696af 100755
--- a/erpnext/hr/doctype/employee/employee.py
+++ b/erpnext/hr/doctype/employee/employee.py
@@ -68,12 +68,18 @@ class Employee(NestedSet):
 		self.employee_name = ' '.join(filter(lambda x: x, [self.first_name, self.middle_name, self.last_name]))
 
 	def validate_user_details(self):
-		data = frappe.db.get_value('User',
-			self.user_id, ['enabled', 'user_image'], as_dict=1)
-		if data.get("user_image") and self.image == '':
-			self.image = data.get("user_image")
-		self.validate_for_enabled_user_id(data.get("enabled", 0))
-		self.validate_duplicate_user_id()
+		if self.user_id:
+			data = frappe.db.get_value("User",
+				self.user_id, ["enabled", "user_image"], as_dict=1)
+
+			if not data:
+				self.user_id = None
+				return
+
+			if data.get("user_image") and self.image == "":
+				self.image = data.get("user_image")
+			self.validate_for_enabled_user_id(data.get("enabled", 0))
+			self.validate_duplicate_user_id()
 
 	def update_nsm_model(self):
 		frappe.utils.nestedset.update_nsm(self)