diff --git a/webapp_welcome_profile.py b/webapp_welcome_profile.py
index 7dde5d9ce..e3d164d9f 100644
--- a/webapp_welcome_profile.py
+++ b/webapp_welcome_profile.py
@@ -107,6 +107,8 @@ def htmlWelcomeProfile(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
 
     bioStr = \
         actorJson['summary'].replace('<p>', '').replace('</p>', '')
+    if not bioStr:
+        bioStr = translate['Your bio']
     profileForm += '  <label class="labels">' + \
         translate['Your bio'] + '</label><br>\n'
     profileForm += '  <textarea id="message" name="bio" ' + \