diff --git a/lerna.json b/lerna.json
index 93db547474..9a9c4ec560 100644
--- a/lerna.json
+++ b/lerna.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "version": "2.9.14",
+  "version": "2.9.15",
   "npmClient": "yarn",
   "packages": [
     "packages/*"
diff --git a/packages/worker/src/api/routes/validation/users.ts b/packages/worker/src/api/routes/validation/users.ts
index 30a3d67434..dfc1e6fbbf 100644
--- a/packages/worker/src/api/routes/validation/users.ts
+++ b/packages/worker/src/api/routes/validation/users.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 import { auth } from "@budibase/backend-core"
 import Joi from "joi"
 
+const OPTIONAL_STRING = Joi.string().allow(null, "")
+
 let schema: any = {
-  email: Joi.string().allow(null, ""),
-  password: Joi.string().allow(null, ""),
+  email: OPTIONAL_STRING,
+  password: OPTIONAL_STRING,
   forceResetPassword: Joi.boolean().optional(),
-  firstName: Joi.string().allow(null, ""),
-  lastName: Joi.string().allow(null, ""),
+  firstName: OPTIONAL_STRING,
+  lastName: OPTIONAL_STRING,
   builder: Joi.object({
     global: Joi.boolean().optional(),
     apps: Joi.array().optional(),
@@ -21,8 +23,8 @@ export const buildSelfSaveValidation = () => {
   schema = {
     password: Joi.string().optional(),
     forceResetPassword: Joi.boolean().optional(),
-    firstName: Joi.string().allow("").optional(),
-    lastName: Joi.string().allow("").optional(),
+    firstName: OPTIONAL_STRING,
+    lastName: OPTIONAL_STRING,
     onboardedAt: Joi.string().optional(),
   }
   return auth.joiValidator.body(Joi.object(schema).required().unknown(false))