diff --git a/fanficfare/dateutils.py b/fanficfare/dateutils.py
index ef4b1aac..510a748d 100644
--- a/fanficfare/dateutils.py
+++ b/fanficfare/dateutils.py
@@ -73,10 +73,10 @@ def parse_relative_date_string(reldatein):
         logger.debug("val:%s unit_string:%s unit:%s"%(value, unit_string, unit))
         ## I'm not going to worry very much about accuracy for a site
         ## that considers '2 years ago' an acceptable time stamp.
-        if "year" in unit_string or 'year' in unit:
+        if "year" in unit_string or unit and ('year' in unit):
             value = unicode(int(value)*365)
             unit = 'days'
-        elif "month" in unit_string or 'month' in unit:
+        elif "month" in unit_string or unit and ('month' in unit):
             value = unicode(int(value)*31)
             unit = 'days'
         logger.debug("val:%s unit_string:%s unit:%s"%(value, unit_string, unit))