diff --git a/app/models/debate.rb b/app/models/debate.rb
index 968431324..c30bc7b8d 100644
--- a/app/models/debate.rb
+++ b/app/models/debate.rb
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ class Debate < ActiveRecord::Base
   end
 
   def self.title_max_length
-    @@title_max_length ||= self.columns.find { |c| c.name == 'title' }.limit
+    @@title_max_length ||= self.columns.find { |c| c.name == 'title' }.limit || 80
   end
 
   def self.description_max_length
diff --git a/app/models/organization.rb b/app/models/organization.rb
index fc9b8cec1..0797849e7 100644
--- a/app/models/organization.rb
+++ b/app/models/organization.rb
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class Organization < ActiveRecord::Base
   end
 
   def self.name_max_length
-    @@name_max_length ||= self.columns.find { |c| c.name == 'name' }.limit
+    @@name_max_length ||= self.columns.find { |c| c.name == 'name' }.limit || 60
   end
 
   private
diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index 08dfd6609..3ddf4df54 100644
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ class User < ActiveRecord::Base
   end
 
   def self.username_max_length
-    @@username_max_length ||= self.columns.find { |c| c.name == 'username' }.limit
+    @@username_max_length ||= self.columns.find { |c| c.name == 'username' }.limit || 60
   end
 
   def show_welcome_screen?