diff --git a/desci-server/src/controllers/nodes/contributions/create.ts b/desci-server/src/controllers/nodes/contributions/create.ts
index e667b7ad5..3a0c26205 100644
--- a/desci-server/src/controllers/nodes/contributions/create.ts
+++ b/desci-server/src/controllers/nodes/contributions/create.ts
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export const addContributor = async (req: AddContributorRequest, res: Response<A
   if (!userId && !email && !orcid) {
     return res.status(400).json({ error: 'userId, Email or Orcid required' });
   }
-  // debugger;
+  debugger; //
   // Add contributor to the db
   try {
     const contributorAdded = await contributorService.addNodeContribution({
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ export const addContributor = async (req: AddContributorRequest, res: Response<A
     });
     if (!contributorAdded) throw Error('Failed to add contributor');
 
-    if (!email && contributorAdded.userId !== undefined) {
+    if (!email && !!contributorAdded.userId) {
       // If the contributor being added has an existing account, their email is available on their profile.
       const invitedContributor = await prisma.user.findUnique({ where: { id: contributorAdded.userId } });
       if (invitedContributor?.email) email = invitedContributor.email;
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ export const addContributor = async (req: AddContributorRequest, res: Response<A
         nodeUuid: node.uuid,
         privShareCode: shareCode,
         contributorId: contributorAdded.contributorId,
-        newUser: contributorAdded.userId === undefined,
+        newUser: !!!contributorAdded.userId,
       });
       const emailMsg = {
         to: email,
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ export const addContributor = async (req: AddContributorRequest, res: Response<A
         html: emailHtml,
       };
 
-      if (contributorAdded.userId !== undefined) {
+      if (!!contributorAdded.userId) {
         // Emit push notif to contributor if they already have a nodes account
         await emitNotificationOnContributorInvite({
           node: node,
diff --git a/desci-server/src/controllers/nodes/contributions/update.ts b/desci-server/src/controllers/nodes/contributions/update.ts
index 473b19dc2..1d79a8eb1 100644
--- a/desci-server/src/controllers/nodes/contributions/update.ts
+++ b/desci-server/src/controllers/nodes/contributions/update.ts
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ export const updateContributor = async (req: UpdateContributorRequest, res: Resp
     if (contributorUpdated) {
       logger.info({ contributorUpdated }, 'Contributor updated successfully');
 
-      if (!email && contributorUpdated.userId !== undefined) {
+      if (!email && !!contributorUpdated.userId) {
         // If the contributor being added has an existing account, their email is available on their profile.
         const invitedContributor = await prisma.user.findUnique({ where: { id: contributorUpdated.userId } });
         if (invitedContributor?.email) email = invitedContributor.email;
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ export const updateContributor = async (req: UpdateContributorRequest, res: Resp
           nodeUuid: node.uuid,
           privShareCode: shareCode,
           contributorId: contributorUpdated.contributorId,
-          newUser: contributorUpdated.userId === undefined,
+          newUser: !!!contributorUpdated.userId,
         });
         const emailMsg = {
           to: email,
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ export const updateContributor = async (req: UpdateContributorRequest, res: Resp
           html: emailHtml,
         };
 
-        if (contribution.userId === undefined && contributorUpdated.userId !== undefined) {
+        if (!!!contribution.userId && !!contributorUpdated.userId) {
           // Emit push notif to contributor if the previous contribution entry didn't have a nodes account associated,
           // but the updated entry now has a nodes account associated.
           await emitNotificationOnContributorInvite({