diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/search.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/search.rb
index a5efa82cf..1cc1fd4a6 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/search.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/search.rb
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ module JamRuby
         my_locid = locidispid/1000000  # if the user didn't specify a location to search on, user their account locidispid
       end
 
-      unless locidispid.nil?
+      if !locidispid.nil? && !user.nil?
         # score_join of left allows for null scores, whereas score_join of inner requires a score however good or bad
         # this is ANY_SCORE:
         score_join = 'left outer' # or 'inner'
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ module JamRuby
           rel = rel.where(['connections.aasm_state != ?', 'expired'])
       end
 
-      unless locidispid.nil?
+      if !locidispid.nil? && !user.nil?
         rel = rel.order('nondirected_scores.full_score ASC NULLS LAST')
       end
 
diff --git a/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/musician_search_spec.rb b/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/musician_search_spec.rb
index 9765e9785..d11e5d845 100644
--- a/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/musician_search_spec.rb
+++ b/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/musician_search_spec.rb
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ describe 'Musician search' do
     end
 
     context 'filter settings' do
-      it "searches musicisns for an instrument" do
+      it "searches musicians for an instrument" do
         minst = FactoryGirl.create(:musician_instrument, {
             :user => @user1,
             :instrument => Instrument.find('tuba')})
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ describe 'Musician search' do
         @user1.reload
         ii = @user1.instruments.detect { |inst| inst.id == 'tuba' }
         expect(ii).to_not be_nil
-        results = Search.musician_filter({:instrument => ii.id, score_limit: Search::TEST_SCORE})
+        results = Search.musician_filter({:instrument => ii.id, score_limit: Search::TEST_SCORE}, @user2)
         results.results.each do |rr|
           expect(rr.instruments.detect { |inst| inst.id=='tuba' }.id).to eq(ii.id)
         end