diff --git a/openlp/plugins/songs/lib/__init__.py b/openlp/plugins/songs/lib/__init__.py
index 60e8788c8..aa9fbc4c9 100644
--- a/openlp/plugins/songs/lib/__init__.py
+++ b/openlp/plugins/songs/lib/__init__.py
@@ -389,6 +389,13 @@ def clean_song(manager, song):
         song.lyrics = str(song.lyrics, encoding='utf8')
     verses = SongXML().get_verses(song.lyrics)
     song.search_lyrics = ' '.join([clean_string(verse[1]) for verse in verses])
+    # The song does not have any author, add one.
+    if not song.authors and not song.authors_songs:  # Need to check both relations
+        name = SongStrings.AuthorUnknown
+        author = manager.get_object_filtered(Author, Author.display_name == name)
+        if author is None:
+            author = Author.populate(display_name=name, last_name='', first_name='')
+        song.authors.append(author)
     if song.copyright:
         song.copyright = CONTROL_CHARS.sub('', song.copyright).strip()