diff --git a/app/services/challenge.service.js b/app/services/challenge.service.js
index eba8c1a3b..6ca22a5c4 100644
--- a/app/services/challenge.service.js
+++ b/app/services/challenge.service.js
@@ -189,7 +189,8 @@
               return submission.type === CONSTANTS.SUBMISSION_TYPE_CONTEST && submission.placement;
             }), 'placement').placement;
           }
-          if (challenge.track === 'DEVELOP' && challenge.subTrack === 'FIRST_2_FINISH') {
+          if (challenge.track === 'DEVELOP' && challenge.subTrack === 'FIRST_2_FINISH'
+            && challenge.userDetails.submissions && challenge.userDetails.submissions.length > 0) {
             challenge.highestPlacement = _.min(challenge.userDetails.submissions.filter(function(submission) {
               return submission.type === CONSTANTS.SUBMISSION_TYPE_CONTEST
               && submission.status === CONSTANTS.STATUS_ACTIVE && submission.placement;
diff --git a/app/services/challenge.service.spec.js b/app/services/challenge.service.spec.js
index 142dd8786..058fcd8cf 100644
--- a/app/services/challenge.service.spec.js
+++ b/app/services/challenge.service.spec.js
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ describe('Challenge Service', function() {
     expect(challenge.userHasSubmitterRole).to.exist.to.true;
   });
 
-  it('processPastChallenges should process a not completed DEVELOP/FIRST_2_FINISH challenge ', function() {
+  it('processPastChallenges should process a not completed (empty submissions) DEVELOP/FIRST_2_FINISH challenge ', function() {
     var challenges = [
       {
         id: 30041345,
@@ -348,6 +348,28 @@ describe('Challenge Service', function() {
     expect(challenge.userHasSubmitterRole).to.exist.to.true;
   });
 
+  it('processPastChallenges should process a not completed(null submissions) DEVELOP/FIRST_2_FINISH challenge ', function() {
+    var challenges = [
+      {
+        id: 30041345,
+        name: 'Mock Challenge 1',
+        track: 'DEVELOP',
+        subTrack: 'FIRST_2_FINISH',
+        userDetails: {
+          hasUserSubmittedForReview: false,
+          roles: ['Submitter'],
+          submissions: null
+        }
+      }
+    ];
+    ChallengeService.processPastChallenges(challenges);
+    var challenge = challenges[0];
+    expect(challenge.highestPlacement).not.to.exist;
+    expect(challenge.wonFirst).to.exist.to.false;
+    expect(challenge.userStatus).to.exist.to.equal('NOT_FINISHED');
+    expect(challenge.userHasSubmitterRole).to.exist.to.true;
+  });
+
   it('processPastChallenges should process a DEVELOP/FIRST_2_FINISH challenge for a non submitter user  ', function() {
     var challenges = [
       {