diff --git a/modules/backend/handlers/users.go b/modules/backend/handlers/users.go
index e215e64..100835a 100644
--- a/modules/backend/handlers/users.go
+++ b/modules/backend/handlers/users.go
@@ -71,7 +71,10 @@ func sqlDate2oapi(p_date pgtype.Timestamptz) *time.Time {
 
 func oapiDate2sql(t *time.Time) pgtype.Timestamptz {
 	if t == nil {
-		return pgtype.Timestamptz{Valid: false}
+		return pgtype.Timestamptz{
+			Time:  time.Now(),
+			Valid: true,
+		}
 	}
 	return pgtype.Timestamptz{
 		Time:  *t,
@@ -386,6 +389,9 @@ func (s Server) AddUserTitle(ctx context.Context, request oapi.AddUserTitleReque
 			// fmt.Println(pgErr.Code)    // => 42601
 			if pgErr.Code == pgErrDuplicateKey { //duplicate key value
 				return oapi.AddUserTitle409Response{}, nil
+			} else {
+				log.Errorf("%v", err)
+				return oapi.AddUserTitle500Response{}, nil
 			}
 		} else {
 			log.Errorf("%v", err)