diff --git a/app/services/crypt_serializer.rb b/app/services/crypt_serializer.rb
index 74a5ad9..07ff30e 100644
--- a/app/services/crypt_serializer.rb
+++ b/app/services/crypt_serializer.rb
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class CryptSerializer
       raise "Attribute was supposed to be a `String`, but was instead a `#{value.class}`"
     end
 
-    return value if value.nil?
+    return nil if value.blank?
 
     cipher.encrypt
     parts = [cipher.random_key, cipher.random_iv, cipher.update(value) + cipher.final]
diff --git a/test/controllers/recruiter_controller_test.rb b/test/controllers/recruiter_controller_test.rb
index 1398f11..1f8828f 100644
--- a/test/controllers/recruiter_controller_test.rb
+++ b/test/controllers/recruiter_controller_test.rb
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class RecruiterControllerTest < ActionDispatch::IntegrationTest
     assert flash[:success]
   end
 
-  test "should fail creation with message" do
+  test "should fail creation with improper email format" do
     setup_auth
 
     assert_difference("ActionMailer::Base.deliveries.size", 0) do
@@ -91,4 +91,18 @@ class RecruiterControllerTest < ActionDispatch::IntegrationTest
     assert assigns(:candidate), "@candidate not present"
     assert_match(/failed.*save/i, flash[:error])
   end
+
+  test "should fail creation gracefully with empty email" do
+    setup_auth
+
+    assert_difference("ActionMailer::Base.deliveries.size", 0) do
+      assert_difference("Candidate.count", 0) do
+        post create_candidate_path, params: { candidate:
+          { name: 'new name', email: "", experience: '0-3', quiz_id: quizzes(:fed).id } }
+      end
+    end
+    assert :success
+    assert assigns(:candidate), "@candidate not present"
+    assert_match(/failed.*save/i, flash[:error])
+  end
 end