diff --git a/bureau/class/m_admin.php b/bureau/class/m_admin.php
index ea7dba02..89e43f42 100644
--- a/bureau/class/m_admin.php
+++ b/bureau/class/m_admin.php
@@ -587,7 +587,7 @@ class m_admin {
    */
   function hook_admin_add_member() {
     global $err, $cuid, $L_FQDN, $L_HOSTING;
-    $dest = variable_get('new_email');
+    $dest = variable_get('new_email', 0, 'An email will be sent to this address when new accounts are created if set.');
     if (!$dest) {
       return false;
     }
diff --git a/bureau/class/m_variables.php b/bureau/class/m_variables.php
index ae1e684e..42e272ab 100644
--- a/bureau/class/m_variables.php
+++ b/bureau/class/m_variables.php
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ class m_variables {
               '".mysql_real_escape_string($var_name)."', 
               '".mysql_real_escape_string($var_value)."', 
               '".mysql_real_escape_string($strata)."', 
-              '".mysql_real_escape_string($strata_id)."', 
+              ".( is_null($strata_id)?'null':"'".mysql_real_escape_string($strata_id)."'").",
               '".mysql_real_escape_string($comment)."' );";
     }