diff --git a/src/classes/wishthis/User.php b/src/classes/wishthis/User.php
index bd5b1a10..6ec2fb58 100644
--- a/src/classes/wishthis/User.php
+++ b/src/classes/wishthis/User.php
@@ -530,9 +530,9 @@ class User
         $this->birthdate = $birthdate;
     }
 
-    public function getChannel(): string
+    public function getChannel(): string|null
     {
-        return $this->channel;
+        return $this->channel ?? null;
     }
 
     public function setChannel(string $channel): void
diff --git a/src/functions/redirect.php b/src/functions/redirect.php
index 70886604..0809f1d3 100644
--- a/src/functions/redirect.php
+++ b/src/functions/redirect.php
@@ -32,14 +32,14 @@ function redirect(string $target)
     if (
            defined('CHANNELS')
         && is_array(CHANNELS)
-        && isset($user->channel)
+        && $user->getChannel()
         && !$isDevEnvironment
     ) {
         $host = null;
 
         foreach (CHANNELS as $channel) {
             if (
-                   $channel['branch'] === $user->channel
+                   $channel['branch'] === $user->getChannel()
                 && $channel['host']   !== $_SERVER['HTTP_HOST']
                 && $isHostInChannel
             ) {