diff --git a/pubsub_to_atom.py b/pubsub_to_atom.py
index cc9d220..23af1ef 100644
--- a/pubsub_to_atom.py
+++ b/pubsub_to_atom.py
@@ -339,10 +339,14 @@ def generate_atom_post(iq, link):
                 if author_email is not None:
                     author_email_text = author_email.text
                     if author_email_text: ET.SubElement(e_author, 'email').text = author_email.text
+                else:
+                    author_email_text = None
                 author_uri = author.find(namespace + 'uri')
                 if author_uri is not None:
                     author_uri_text = author_uri.text
                     if author_uri_text: ET.SubElement(e_author, 'uri').text = author_uri.text
+                else:
+                    author_uri_text = None
                 author_name = author.find(namespace + 'name')
                 if author_name is not None and author_name.text:
                     author_name_text = author_name.text