diff --git a/cps/helper.py b/cps/helper.py
index 52e96b6c..2a85f8fc 100755
--- a/cps/helper.py
+++ b/cps/helper.py
@@ -281,7 +281,8 @@ def get_valid_filename(value, replace_whitespace=True):
     if replace_whitespace:
         #*+:\"/<>? are replaced by _
         value = re.sub(r'[\*\+:\\\"/<>\?]+', u'_', value, flags=re.U)
-
+        # pipe has to be replaced with comma
+        value = re.sub(r'[\|]+', u',', value, flags=re.U)
     value = value[:128]
     if not value:
         raise ValueError("Filename cannot be empty")
diff --git a/cps/web.py b/cps/web.py
index 8f6c9046..61122591 100755
--- a/cps/web.py
+++ b/cps/web.py
@@ -600,7 +600,7 @@ def modify_database_object(input_elements, db_book_object, db_object, db_session
             # if no element is found add it
             if new_element is None:
                 if db_type == 'author':
-                    new_element = db_object(add_element, add_element, "")
+                    new_element = db_object(add_element, add_element.replace('|',','), "")
                 elif db_type == 'series':
                     new_element = db_object(add_element, add_element)
                 elif db_type == 'custom':