diff --git a/app/directives/challenge-user-place/challenge-user-place.directive.js b/app/directives/challenge-user-place/challenge-user-place.directive.js
index 5fabbc384..90af94e44 100644
--- a/app/directives/challenge-user-place/challenge-user-place.directive.js
+++ b/app/directives/challenge-user-place/challenge-user-place.directive.js
@@ -44,10 +44,13 @@
 
         function activate() {
           $scope.numImages = 0;
-          if (!$scope.challenge.isPrivate && $scope.challenge.userDetails.submissions && $scope.challenge.userDetails.submissions.length > 0) {
-            $scope.numImages = $scope.challenge.userDetails.submissions.filter(function(submission) {
+          if ($scope.challenge.userDetails && $scope.challenge.userDetails.submissions && $scope.challenge.userDetails.submissions.length > 0) {
+            $scope.challenge.userDetails.submissions = $scope.challenge.userDetails.submissions.filter(function(submission) {
               return submission && submission.submissionImage;
-            }).length;
+            });
+          }
+          if (!$scope.challenge.isPrivate && $scope.challenge.userDetails && $scope.challenge.userDetails.submissions && $scope.challenge.userDetails.submissions.length > 0) {
+            $scope.numImages = $scope.challenge.userDetails.submissions.length;
             $scope.selectedIndex = 0;
             $scope.challenge.thumbnailId = $scope.challenge.userDetails.submissions[0].id;
             $scope.imageURL = $scope.challenge.userDetails.submissions[0].submissionImage && $scope.challenge.userDetails.submissions[0].submissionImage.full;