diff --git a/api/utils.py b/api/utils.py
index 5511be0..71f145f 100644
--- a/api/utils.py
+++ b/api/utils.py
@@ -7,10 +7,13 @@ def is_valid_email(email):
 def check_version_smaller_than_1_1_12(version_str):
     # Remove the parentheses part if it exists, example of version: 1.1.12 (2)
     version_str = version_str.split()[0]
+    if version_str:
 
-    # Split version into components
-    version_parts = [int(x) for x in version_str.split('.')]
-    target_parts = [1, 1, 12]
+        # Split version into components
+        version_parts = [int(x) for x in version_str.split('.')]
+        target_parts = [1, 1, 12]
 
-    # Compare version components
-    return version_parts < target_parts
+        # Compare version components
+        return version_parts < target_parts
+    else:
+        return False