--- a/Allura/allura/model/auth.py
+++ b/Allura/allura/model/auth.py
@@ -534,7 +534,10 @@
 
     @property
     def user(self):
-        if self.user_id is None: return None
+        if (self.user_id is None
+            and self.name 
+            and self.name != '*anonymous'):
+            return None
         return User.query.get(_id=self.user_id)
 
     @property