diff --git a/debian/settings.py b/debian/settings.py
index 5c4fd1c..a8bd966 100644
--- a/debian/settings.py
+++ b/debian/settings.py
@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@ TEMPLATE_DEBUG = DEBUG
 VAR_DIR = '/var/lib/wcsinstd'
 PROJECT_PATH = os.path.dirname(__file__)
 
-ADMINS = [ x.split(';') for x in os.environ['ADMINS'].split(',')] or \
-        ( ('root', 'root@localhost') )
+if 'ADMINS' in os.environ:
+    ADMINS = [ x.split(';') for x in os.environ['ADMINS'].split(',') ]
+else:
+    ADMINS = ( ('root', 'root@localhost') )
 
 MANAGERS = ADMINS