diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/user.ts b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/user.ts
index bdbb1c7f93..8af7619634 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/user.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/user.ts
@@ -28,9 +28,10 @@ export async function syncUser(ctx: Ctx) {
     }
   }
 
-  let previousApps = isUser(previousUser)
-    ? Object.keys(previousUser.roles).map(appId => appId)
-    : []
+  let previousApps =
+    previousUser && isUser(previousUser)
+      ? Object.keys(previousUser.roles).map(appId => appId)
+      : []
 
   const roles = deleting ? {} : user.roles
   // remove props which aren't useful to metadata
diff --git a/packages/types/src/documents/global/user.ts b/packages/types/src/documents/global/user.ts
index 5787318680..91543a6368 100644
--- a/packages/types/src/documents/global/user.ts
+++ b/packages/types/src/documents/global/user.ts
@@ -70,6 +70,6 @@ export interface AdminUser extends User {
   }
 }
 
-export function isUser(user: any): user is User {
+export function isUser(user: object): user is User {
   return !!(user as User).roles
 }