diff --git a/listenarr.api/Services/IAuthorCatalogService.cs b/listenarr.api/Services/IAuthorCatalogService.cs
index 3c89a8a4..65ef0e62 100644
--- a/listenarr.api/Services/IAuthorCatalogService.cs
+++ b/listenarr.api/Services/IAuthorCatalogService.cs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ public interface IAuthorCatalogService
 
     public sealed class AuthorCatalogFetchResult
     {
-        public AuthorLookupItem Author { get; set; } = new();
+        public AuthorLookupItem? Author { get; set; }
 
         public List<AudibleSearchResult> Books { get; set; } = new();