diff --git a/mod/photos.php b/mod/photos.php
index bd9762882e..ed73f05ded 100644
--- a/mod/photos.php
+++ b/mod/photos.php
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ function photos_init(App $a) {
 
 	if (DI::args()->getArgc() > 1) {
 		$owner = User::getOwnerDataByNick(DI::args()->getArgv()[1]);
-		if (empty($owner) || $owner['account_removed']) {
+		if (!isset($owner['account_removed']) || $owner['account_removed']) {
 			throw new HTTPException\NotFoundException(DI::l10n()->t('User not found.'));
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/Console/User.php b/src/Console/User.php
index 586c300eaf..25f5ceeb07 100644
--- a/src/Console/User.php
+++ b/src/Console/User.php
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ HELP;
 	 * @return bool True, if the delete was successful
 	 * @throws \Exception
 	 */
-	private function deleteUser()
+	private function deleteUser(): bool
 	{
 		$user = $this->getUserByNick(1);
 
diff --git a/src/Model/Profile.php b/src/Model/Profile.php
index db79134fbd..d27faaf5cd 100644
--- a/src/Model/Profile.php
+++ b/src/Model/Profile.php
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ class Profile
 	public static function load(App $a, string $nickname, bool $show_contacts = true)
 	{
 		$profile = User::getOwnerDataByNick($nickname);
-		if (empty($profile) || !isset($profile['account_removed']) || $profile['account_removed']) {
+		if (!isset($profile['account_removed']) || $profile['account_removed']) {
 			Logger::info('profile error: ' . DI::args()->getQueryString());
 			return [];
 		}