diff --git a/src/routes/voteOnSponsorTime.js b/src/routes/voteOnSponsorTime.js
index 5025fbb..0880959 100644
--- a/src/routes/voteOnSponsorTime.js
+++ b/src/routes/voteOnSponsorTime.js
@@ -266,14 +266,15 @@ module.exports = async function voteOnSponsorTime(req, res) {
         //for each positive vote, see if a hidden submission can be shown again
         if (incrementAmount > 0 && voteTypeEnum === voteTypes.normal) {
             //find the UUID that submitted the submission that was voted on
-            let submissionUserID = db.prepare("SELECT userID FROM sponsorTimes WHERE UUID = ?").get(UUID)?.userID;
-
-            if (!submissionUserID) {
+            let submissionUserIDInfo = db.prepare("SELECT userID FROM sponsorTimes WHERE UUID = ?").get(UUID).userID;
+            if (!submissionUserIDInfo) {
                 // They are voting on a non-existent submission
                 res.status("Voting on a non-existent submission").send(400);
                 return;
             }
 
+            let submissionUserID = submissionUserIDInfo.userID;
+
             //check if any submissions are hidden
             let hiddenSubmissionsRow = db.prepare("SELECT count(*) as hiddenSubmissions FROM sponsorTimes WHERE userID = ? AND shadowHidden > 0").get(submissionUserID);