diff --git a/daemon.py b/daemon.py
index 9f4fdf87a..82ada2b1f 100644
--- a/daemon.py
+++ b/daemon.py
@@ -4217,7 +4217,8 @@ class PubServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
                             if actorSkillValue(actorJson, skillName) != \
                                int(skillValue):
                                 actorChanged = True
-                        setActorSkillLevel(actorJson, skillName, int(skillValue))
+                        setActorSkillLevel(actorJson,
+                                           skillName, int(skillValue))
                         skillsStr = self.server.translate['Skills']
                         setHashtagCategory(baseDir, skillName,
                                            skillsStr.lower())
diff --git a/skills.py b/skills.py
index 5a6ac7870..0c13d4165 100644
--- a/skills.py
+++ b/skills.py
@@ -17,14 +17,16 @@ from utils import getDomainFromActor
 from utils import loadJson
 
 
-def _setSkillsFromDict(actorJson: {}, skills: {}) -> None:
+def setSkillsFromDict(actorJson: {}, skillsDict: {}) -> str:
     """Converts a dict containing skills to a string
+    Returns the string version of the dictionary
     """
     skillsStr = ''
-    for name, value in skills.items():
+    for name, value in skillsDict.items():
         if skillsStr:
             skillsStr += ', '
         skillsStr += name + ':' + str(value)
+    actorJson['hasOccupation']['skills'] = skillsStr
     return skillsStr
 
 
@@ -32,7 +34,7 @@ def getSkillsFromString(skillsStr: str) -> {}:
     """Returns a dict of skills from a string
     """
     skillsList = skillsStr.split(',')
-    skills = {}
+    skillsDict = {}
     for skill in skillsList:
         if ':' not in skill:
             continue
@@ -40,28 +42,30 @@ def getSkillsFromString(skillsStr: str) -> {}:
         valueStr = skill.split(':')[1]
         if not valueStr.isdigit():
             continue
-        skills[name] = int(valueStr)
-    return skills
+        skillsDict[name] = int(valueStr)
+    return skillsDict
 
 
 def actorHasSkill(actorJson: {}, skillName: str) -> bool:
     """Returns true if the actor has the given skill
     """
-    skills = getSkillsFromString(actorJson['hasOccupation']['skills'])
-    if not skills:
+    skillsDict = \
+        getSkillsFromString(actorJson['hasOccupation']['skills'])
+    if not skillsDict:
         return False
-    return skills.get(skillName.lower())
+    return skillsDict.get(skillName.lower())
 
 
 def actorSkillValue(actorJson: {}, skillName: str) -> int:
     """Returns The skill level from an actor
     """
-    skills = getSkillsFromString(actorJson['hasOccupation']['skills'])
-    if not skills:
+    skillsDict = \
+        getSkillsFromString(actorJson['hasOccupation']['skills'])
+    if not skillsDict:
         return 0
     skillName = skillName.lower()
-    if skills.get(skillName):
-        return skills[skillName]
+    if skillsDict.get(skillName):
+        return skillsDict[skillName]
     return 0
 
 
@@ -83,20 +87,22 @@ def setActorSkillLevel(actorJson: {},
     if skillLevelPercent < 0 or skillLevelPercent > 100:
         return False
 
-    if actorJson:
-        if not actorJson.get('hasOccupation'):
-            actorJson['hasOccupation'] = {
-                '@type': 'Occupation',
-                'name': '',
-                'skills': ''
-            }
-        skills = getSkillsFromString(actorJson['hasOccupation']['skills'])
-        if skillLevelPercent > 0:
-            skills[skill] = skillLevelPercent
-        else:
-            if skills.get(skill):
-                del skills[skill]
-        _setSkillsFromDict(actorJson, skills)
+    if not actorJson:
+        return True
+    if not actorJson.get('hasOccupation'):
+        actorJson['hasOccupation'] = {
+            '@type': 'Occupation',
+            'name': '',
+            'skills': ''
+        }
+    skillsDict = \
+        getSkillsFromString(actorJson['hasOccupation']['skills'])
+    if skillLevelPercent > 0:
+        skillsDict[skill] = skillLevelPercent
+    else:
+        if skillsDict.get(skill):
+            del skillsDict[skill]
+    setSkillsFromDict(actorJson, skillsDict)
     return True
 
 
diff --git a/tests.py b/tests.py
index 541eb52af..e4b2300d0 100644
--- a/tests.py
+++ b/tests.py
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ from person import setDisplayNickname
 from person import setBio
 # from person import generateRSAKey
 from skills import setSkillLevel
+from skills import setSkillsFromDict
+from skills import getSkillsFromString
 from roles import setRole
 from roles import outboxDelegate
 from auth import constantTimeStringCheck
@@ -3731,9 +3733,32 @@ def testSpoofGeolocation() -> None:
         kmlFile.close()
 
 
+def testSkills() -> None:
+    print('testSkills')
+    actorJson = {
+        'hasOccupation': {
+            '@type': 'Occupation',
+            'name': "",
+            'skills': ""
+        }
+    }
+    skillsDict = {
+        'bakery': 40,
+        'gardening': 70
+    }
+    setSkillsFromDict(actorJson, skillsDict)
+    assert actorJson['hasOccupation']['skills']
+    skillsDict = getSkillsFromString(actorJson['hasOccupation']['skills'])
+    assert skillsDict.get('bakery')
+    assert skillsDict.get('gardening')
+    assert skillsDict['bakery'] == 40
+    assert skillsDict['gardening'] == 70
+
+
 def runAllTests():
     print('Running tests...')
     testFunctions()
+    testSkills()
     testSpoofGeolocation()
     testRemovePostInteractions()
     testExtractPGPPublicKey()