diff --git a/person.py b/person.py
index 044ab00e1..747847787 100644
--- a/person.py
+++ b/person.py
@@ -578,9 +578,11 @@ def personUpgradeActor(baseDir: str, personJson: {},
     if personJson.get('occupationName'):
         occupationName = personJson['occupationName']
         del personJson['occupationName']
+        updateActor = True
     if personJson.get('occupation'):
         occupationName = personJson['occupation']
         del personJson['occupation']
+        updateActor = True
 
     # if the older skills format is being used then switch
     # to the new one
diff --git a/webapp_utils.py b/webapp_utils.py
index 87c90edfc..b4d075108 100644
--- a/webapp_utils.py
+++ b/webapp_utils.py
@@ -722,10 +722,12 @@ def htmlHeaderWithPersonMarkup(cssFilename: str, instanceTitle: str,
 
     skillsMarkup = ''
     if actorJson.get('hasOccupation'):
-        skillsList = actorJson['hasOccupation']['skills']
+        occupationStr = ''
         if actorJson['hasOccupation'].get('name'):
             occupationName = actorJson['hasOccupation']['name']
-            occupationStr = '        "name": "' + occupationName + '",\n'
+            occupationStr += '        "name": "' + occupationName + '",\n'
+        skillsList = actorJson['hasOccupation']['skills']
+        if skillsList:
             skillsMarkup = \
                 '      "hasOccupation": {\n' + \
                 '        "@type": "Occupation",\n' + \