diff --git a/frontend/src/components/pricing/UpgradeDialog.vue b/frontend/src/components/pricing/UpgradeDialog.vue
index 68160775..0ed5c409 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/pricing/UpgradeDialog.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/pricing/UpgradeDialog.vue
@@ -634,14 +634,26 @@ export default {
       )
     },
     async init() {
-      // if (this.featureFlagsLoaded) {
       if (!this.lifetimePrice || !this.monthlyPrice) {
         await this.fetchPrice()
       }
-      // }
     },
     async fetchPrice() {
-      const res = await get("/stripe/price?exp=" + this.pricingPageConversion)
+      let res;
+      // Mock stripe price results in development mode as the Stripe API won't be accessible
+      if (process.env.NODE_ENV === "development") {
+        res = {
+          lifetime: { id: "price_dev_lifetime", unit_amount: 9999, recurring: null },
+          monthly: { id: "price_dev_monthly", unit_amount: 999, recurring: { interval: "month" } },
+          yearly: { id: "price_dev_yearly", unit_amount: 7999, recurring: { interval: "year" } },
+          lifetimeStudent: { id: "price_dev_lifetime_student", unit_amount: 4999, recurring: null },
+          monthlyStudent: { id: "price_dev_monthly_student", unit_amount: 499, recurring: { interval: "month" } },
+          yearlyStudent: { id: "price_dev_yearly_student", unit_amount: 3999, recurring: { interval: "year" } },
+        }
+      } else {
+        res = await get("/stripe/price?exp=" + this.pricingPageConversion)
+      }
+
       const {
         lifetime,
         monthly,
diff --git a/server/routes/events.go b/server/routes/events.go
index 16362df7..fbd5fb91 100644
--- a/server/routes/events.go
+++ b/server/routes/events.go
@@ -95,8 +95,13 @@ func createEvent(c *gin.Context) {
 	var user *models.User
 	var ownerId primitive.ObjectID
 	if signedIn {
-		ownerId = utils.StringToObjectID(userId)
 		user = db.GetUserById(userId)
+		if user == nil {
+			signedIn = false
+			ownerId = primitive.NilObjectID
+		} else {
+			ownerId = utils.StringToObjectID(userId)
+		}
 	} else {
 		ownerId = primitive.NilObjectID
 	}
@@ -686,8 +691,6 @@ func getResponses(c *gin.Context) {
 		responsesMap[userId] = response
 	}
 
-	
-
 	// Apply privacy logic based on blindAvailabilityEnabled
 	if !utils.Coalesce(event.BlindAvailabilityEnabled) {
 		// Blind availability is NOT enabled - return response as-is
@@ -1628,4 +1631,3 @@ func getResponsesMap(responses []models.EventResponse) map[string]*models.Respon
 	}
 	return result
 }
-