diff --git a/qiita_db/artifact.py b/qiita_db/artifact.py
index 79cf64de0..2604ee6ef 100644
--- a/qiita_db/artifact.py
+++ b/qiita_db/artifact.py
@@ -1566,7 +1566,8 @@ def has_human(self):
                 with qdb.sql_connection.TRN:
                     qdb.sql_connection.TRN.add(sql)
                     for v in qdb.sql_connection.TRN.execute_fetchflatten():
-                        if v.startswith('human-'):
+                        # str is needed as v could be None
+                        if str(v).startswith('human-'):
                             has_human = True
                             break