diff --git a/addons/dialogic/Modules/Character/event_character.gd b/addons/dialogic/Modules/Character/event_character.gd
index f48ab593c..df7a16521 100644
--- a/addons/dialogic/Modules/Character/event_character.gd
+++ b/addons/dialogic/Modules/Character/event_character.gd
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ var character_identifier: String:
 	set(value):
 		character_identifier = value
 		character = DialogicResourceUtil.get_character_resource(value)
-		if character and not character.portraits.has(portrait):
+		if (not character) or (character and not character.portraits.has(portrait)):
 			portrait = ""
 			ui_update_needed.emit()
 
diff --git a/addons/dialogic/Modules/Text/event_text.gd b/addons/dialogic/Modules/Text/event_text.gd
index 5eda05795..b547a252f 100644
--- a/addons/dialogic/Modules/Text/event_text.gd
+++ b/addons/dialogic/Modules/Text/event_text.gd
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ var character_identifier: String:
 	set(value):
 		character_identifier = value
 		character = DialogicResourceUtil.get_character_resource(value)
-		if not character.portraits.has(portrait):
+		if (not character) or (character and not character.portraits.has(portrait)):
 			portrait = ""
 			ui_update_needed.emit()