diff --git a/bdfr/downloader.py b/bdfr/downloader.py
index 028430f..02f5c68 100644
--- a/bdfr/downloader.py
+++ b/bdfr/downloader.py
@@ -51,10 +51,11 @@ class RedditDownloader(RedditConnector):
         elif submission.subreddit.display_name.lower() in self.args.skip_subreddit:
             logger.debug(f'Submission {submission.id} in {submission.subreddit.display_name} in skip list')
             return
-        elif submission.author.name in self.args.ignore_user:
+        elif (submission.author and submission.author.name in self.args.ignore_user) or \
+                (submission.author is None and 'DELETED' in self.args.ignore_user):
             logger.debug(
                 f'Submission {submission.id} in {submission.subreddit.display_name} skipped'
-                f' due to {submission.author.name} being an ignored user')
+                f' due to {submission.author.name if submission.author else "DELETED"} being an ignored user')
             return
         elif not isinstance(submission, praw.models.Submission):
             logger.warning(f'{submission.id} is not a submission')