     App.view('generic/user_search/new_user')()
 
   build: =>
-    if @attribute.multiple
+    tokens = ''
+    name = ''
+    value = ''
+
+    if @attribute.multiple && @attribute.value
+      # fallback for if the value is not an array
       if typeof @attribute.value is not 'object'
         @attribute.value = [@attribute.value]
-      
+
       value = @attribute.value.join ','
-      tokens = ''
-      name = ''
+
+      # create tokens
       for userId in @attribute.value
         if App.User.exists userId
           tokens += App.view('generic/token')(

          @log 'userId doesn\'t exist', userId
    else
      value = @attribute.value
      tokens = ''
      if value
        if App.User.exists value
          name = App.User.find(value).displayName()


    return if !userId
    return if !App.User.exists(userId)
    user = App.User.find(userId)
    name = user.displayName()

    if @attribute.multiple
      # create token
      @createToken name, userId
    else
      if user.email
        name += " <#{user.email}>"
      
      @userSelect.val(name)

    if @callback
