diff --git a/app/services/user.js b/app/services/user.js
index 1ad20a0..d1ff97f 100644
--- a/app/services/user.js
+++ b/app/services/user.js
@@ -123,6 +123,8 @@ class UserService extends SiteService {
       /*
        * Base permissions
        */
+      user.permissions = { };
+
       user.permissions.canLogin = true;
       user.permissions.canChat = true;
       user.permissions.canComment = true;