diff --git a/admin/committees.php b/admin/committees.php
index b0aa40dc..297599cd 100644
--- a/admin/committees.php
+++ b/admin/committees.php
@@ -195,14 +195,19 @@ if($_POST['save'])
 	else
 		$emailupdate="email='".mysql_escape_string(stripslashes($_POST['email']))."', ";
 
-	$q=mysql_query("SELECT id FROM committees_members WHERE (email='".$_POST['emailprivate']."' OR emailprivate='".$_POST['emailprivate']."') AND id!='".$_POST['save']."'");
-	if(mysql_num_rows($q))
-	{
-		$emailprivateupdate="";
-		echo notice(i18n("Cannot update private email address.  That address already exists for a different committee member"));
+	$emailprivate = trim(mysql_escape_string(stripslashes($_POST['emailprivate'])));
+	if($emailprivate != '') {
+		$q=mysql_query("SELECT id FROM committees_members WHERE (email='$emailprivate' OR emailprivate='$emailprivate') AND id!='".$_POST['save']."'");
+		if(mysql_num_rows($q))
+		{
+			$emailprivateupdate="";
+			echo notice(i18n("Cannot update private email address.  That address already exists for a different committee member"));
+		} else {
+			$emailprivateupdate="emailprivate='$emailprivate', ";
+		}
+	} else {
+		$emailprivateupdate="emailprivate='$emailprivate', ";
 	}
-	else
-		$emailprivateupdate="emailprivate='".mysql_escape_string(stripslashes($_POST['emailprivate']))."', ";
 
 	mysql_query("UPDATE committees_members SET ".
 		"name='".mysql_escape_string(stripslashes($_POST['name']))."', ".