diff --git a/patacrep/authors.py b/patacrep/authors.py
index dadcc909..03221ebc 100644
--- a/patacrep/authors.py
+++ b/patacrep/authors.py
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ def compile_authwords(authwords):
         'ignore': authwords.get('ignore', []),
         'after': [
             re.compile(RE_AFTER.format(word))
-            for word in authwords.get('after')
+            for word in authwords.get('after', [])
             ],
         'separators': [
             re.compile(RE_SEPARATOR.format(word))
-            for word in ([" %s" % word for word in authwords['separators']] + [',', ';'])
+            for word in ([" %s" % word for word in authwords.get('separators', [])] + [',', ';'])
             ],
         }