diff --git a/src/main/java/net/discordjug/javabot/RuntimeHintsConfiguration.java b/src/main/java/net/discordjug/javabot/RuntimeHintsConfiguration.java
index 3ece8c1a1..3fb5f6c57 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/discordjug/javabot/RuntimeHintsConfiguration.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/discordjug/javabot/RuntimeHintsConfiguration.java
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import java.nio.channels.Channel;
 
+import club.minnced.discord.webhook.send.WebhookEmbed;
 import net.discordjug.javabot.data.config.BotConfig;
 import net.discordjug.javabot.data.config.GuildConfig;
 import net.discordjug.javabot.data.config.GuildConfigItem;
@@ -48,7 +49,9 @@
 		//ensure JDA can create necessary caches
 		User[].class, Guild[].class, Member[].class, Role[].class, Channel[].class, AudioManager[].class, ScheduledEvent[].class, ThreadMember[].class, ForumTag[].class, RichCustomEmoji[].class, GuildSticker[].class, MemberPresenceImpl[].class,
 		//needs to be serialized for channel managers etc
-		PermOverrideData.class
+		PermOverrideData.class,
+		//ensure that webhook embed authors can be serialized
+		WebhookEmbed.EmbedAuthor.class
 	})
 public class RuntimeHintsConfiguration implements RuntimeHintsRegistrar {
 	
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/discordjug/javabot/util/WebhookUtil.java b/src/main/java/net/discordjug/javabot/util/WebhookUtil.java
index bdad5a4aa..a93e8ff92 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/discordjug/javabot/util/WebhookUtil.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/discordjug/javabot/util/WebhookUtil.java
@@ -91,7 +91,13 @@ public static void ensureWebhookExists(@NotNull IWebhookContainer channel, @NotN
 	 * the message
 	 */
 	public static CompletableFuture<ReadonlyMessage> mirrorMessageToWebhook(@NotNull Webhook webhook, @NotNull Message originalMessage, String newMessageContent, long threadId, @Nullable List<LayoutComponent> components, @Nullable List<MessageEmbed> embeds) {
-		return originalMessage.getGuild().retrieveMember(originalMessage.getAuthor()).submit().thenCompose(member -> mirrorMessageToWebhook(webhook, originalMessage, newMessageContent, threadId, components, embeds, member));
+		return originalMessage
+				.getGuild()
+				.retrieveMember(originalMessage.getAuthor())
+				.submit()
+				.exceptionally(e -> null)//if the member cannot be found, use no member information
+				.thenCompose(member -> 
+					mirrorMessageToWebhook(webhook, originalMessage, newMessageContent, threadId, components, embeds, member));
 	}
 
 	private static CompletableFuture<ReadonlyMessage> mirrorMessageToWebhook(@NotNull Webhook webhook, Message originalMessage, String newMessageContent, long threadId,