diff --git a/forum-network/src/classes/dao/validation-pool.js b/forum-network/src/classes/dao/validation-pool.js
index 8300f54..f3cbfa5 100644
--- a/forum-network/src/classes/dao/validation-pool.js
+++ b/forum-network/src/classes/dao/validation-pool.js
@@ -113,9 +113,11 @@ export class ValidationPool extends ReputationHolder {
       throw new Error(`Each citation magnitude must not exceed revaluation limit ${params.revaluationLimit}`);
     }
 
-    const totalAuthorWeight = (post.authors ?? []).reduce((total, { weight }) => total += weight, 0);
-    if (totalAuthorWeight !== 1) {
-      throw new Error(`Total author weight ${totalAuthorWeight} !== 1`);
+    if (post.authors?.length) {
+      const totalAuthorWeight = post.authors.reduce((total, { weight }) => total += weight, 0);
+      if (totalAuthorWeight !== 1) {
+        throw new Error(`Total author weight ${totalAuthorWeight} !== 1`);
+      }
     }
 
     this.state = ValidationPoolStates.OPEN;