diff --git a/cps/config_sql.py b/cps/config_sql.py
index b965eace..f0cd78af 100644
--- a/cps/config_sql.py
+++ b/cps/config_sql.py
@@ -214,25 +214,20 @@ class _ConfigSQL(object):
         return self.show_element_new_user(constants.DETAIL_RANDOM)
 
     def list_denied_tags(self):
-        try:
-            mct = self.config_denied_tags.split(",")
-            return [t.strip() for t in mct]
-        except AttributeError:
-            # Fix for improper migrated database with config_mature_content_tags NULL instead of ""
-            self.config_denied_tags = ""
-            return ['']
+        mct = self.config_denied_tags or ""
+        return [t.strip() for t in mct.split(",")]
 
     def list_allowed_tags(self):
-        mct = self.config_allowed_tags.split(",")
-        return [t.strip() for t in mct]
+        mct = self.config_allowed_tags or ""
+        return [t.strip() for t in mct.split(",")]
 
     def list_denied_column_values(self):
-        mct = self.config_denied_column_value.split(",")
-        return [t.strip() for t in mct]
+        mct = self.config_denied_column_value or ""
+        return [t.strip() for t in mct.split(",")]
 
     def list_allowed_column_values(self):
-        mct = self.config_allowed_column_value.split(",")
-        return [t.strip() for t in mct]
+        mct = self.config_allowed_column_value or ""
+        return [t.strip() for t in mct.split(",")]
 
     def get_log_level(self):
         return logger.get_level_name(self.config_log_level)
diff --git a/cps/ub.py b/cps/ub.py
index 8fcec1af..2b732cc2 100644
--- a/cps/ub.py
+++ b/cps/ub.py
@@ -176,26 +176,20 @@ class UserBase:
         return self.check_visibility(constants.DETAIL_RANDOM)
 
     def list_denied_tags(self):
-        try:
-            mct = self.denied_tags.split(",")
-            return [t.strip() for t in mct]
-        except AttributeError:
-            # Fix for improper migrated database with config_mature_content_tags NULL instead of ""
-            self.denied_tags=""
-            return ['']
-
+        mct = self.denied_tags or ""
+        return [t.strip() for t in mct.split(",")]
 
     def list_allowed_tags(self):
-        mct = self.allowed_tags.split(",")
-        return [t.strip() for t in mct]
+        mct = self.allowed_tags or ""
+        return [t.strip() for t in mct.split(",")]
 
     def list_denied_column_values(self):
-        mct = self.denied_column_value.split(",")
-        return [t.strip() for t in mct]
+        mct = self.denied_column_value or ""
+        return [t.strip() for t in mct.split(",")]
 
     def list_allowed_column_values(self):
-        mct = self.allowed_column_value.split(",")
-        return [t.strip() for t in mct]
+        mct = self.allowed_column_value or ""
+        return [t.strip() for t in mct.split(",")]
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return '<User %r>' % self.nickname