diff --git a/userroles/models.py b/userroles/models.py
index f0f6390..260bfa3 100644
--- a/userroles/models.py
+++ b/userroles/models.py
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ def profile(self):
         return getattr(self, self.child)
 
     def __eq__(self, other):
-        return self.name == other.name
+        other_name = getattr(other, "name", "")
+        return self.name == other_name
 
     def __getattr__(self, name):
         if name.startswith('is_'):