diff --git a/src/node/handler/PadMessageHandler.js b/src/node/handler/PadMessageHandler.js
index ffbb74ea8..1fde752d6 100644
--- a/src/node/handler/PadMessageHandler.js
+++ b/src/node/handler/PadMessageHandler.js
@@ -1189,6 +1189,28 @@ async function handleClientReady(client, message)
       let p = cached ? Promise.resolve(cached) : authorManager.getAuthor(author);
 
       return p.then(authorInfo => {
+        // default fallback color to use if authorInfo.colorId is null
+        const defaultColor = "#daf0b2";
+
+        if (!authorInfo) {
+          console.warn(`handleClientReady(): no authorInfo parameter was received. Default values are going to be used. See issue #3612`);
+          authorInfo = {};
+        }
+
+        // For some reason sometimes name isn't set
+        // Catch this issue here and use a fixed name.
+        if (!authorInfo.name) {
+          console.warn(`handleClientReady(): client submitted no author name. Using "Anonymous". See: issue #3612`);
+          authorInfo.name = "Anonymous";
+        }
+
+        // For some reason sometimes colorId isn't set
+        // Catch this issue here and use a fixed color.
+        if (!authorInfo.colorId) {
+          console.warn(`handleClientReady(): author "${authorInfo.name}" has no property colorId. Using the default color ${defaultColor}. See issue #3612`);
+          authorInfo.colorId = defaultColor;
+        }
+
         // Send the new User a Notification about this other user
         let msg = {
           "type": "COLLABROOM",