diff --git a/lib/api/addresses.js b/lib/api/addresses.js
index 2c0525b..e1dc3ac 100644
--- a/lib/api/addresses.js
+++ b/lib/api/addresses.js
@@ -1496,12 +1496,14 @@ module.exports = (db, server) => {
                                     target.user = map.get(addrv);
                                 }
                             });
-                            updates.targets = targets;
                             done();
                         });
                 };
 
                 resolveUsers(() => {
+                    if (targets && targets.length) {
+                        updates.targets = targets;
+                    }
                     // insert alias address to email address registry
                     db.users.collection('addresses').findOneAndUpdate(
                         {