diff --git a/bdfr/downloader.py b/bdfr/downloader.py
index 5acb7de..72cc019 100644
--- a/bdfr/downloader.py
+++ b/bdfr/downloader.py
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ class RedditDownloader:
         try:
             if not user.id:
                 return False
-        except prawcore.exceptions.NotFound:
+        except (prawcore.exceptions.NotFound, AttributeError):
             return False
         return True
 
diff --git a/tests/test_downloader.py b/tests/test_downloader.py
index 0d609ef..189f66a 100644
--- a/tests/test_downloader.py
+++ b/tests/test_downloader.py
@@ -458,3 +458,21 @@ def test_read_excluded_submission_ids_from_file(downloader_mock: MagicMock, tmp_
     downloader_mock.args.exclude_id_file = [test_file]
     results = RedditDownloader._read_excluded_ids(downloader_mock)
     assert results == {'aaaaaa', 'bbbbbb'}
+
+
+@pytest.mark.online
+@pytest.mark.reddit
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(('test_redditor_name', 'expected'), (
+    ('anthonyhui', True),  # Real
+    ('lhnhfkuhwreolo', False),  # Fake
+    ('Bree-Boo', False),  # Banned
+))
+def test_check_user_existence(
+        test_redditor_name: str,
+        expected: bool,
+        reddit_instance: praw.Reddit,
+        downloader_mock: MagicMock,
+):
+    downloader_mock.reddit_instance = reddit_instance
+    result = RedditDownloader._check_user_existence(downloader_mock, test_redditor_name)
+    assert result == expected