diff --git a/gluon/authapi.py b/gluon/authapi.py
index 50e30db9..887ae724 100644
--- a/gluon/authapi.py
+++ b/gluon/authapi.py
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ class AuthAPI(object):
         # log messages should not be translated
         if type(description).__name__ == 'lazyT':
             description = description.m
-        if self.table_user()[user_id]:
+        if not user_id or self.table_user()[user_id]:
             self.table_event().insert(
                 description=str(description % vars), origin=origin, user_id=user_id)