diff --git a/lib/controllers/explore_story_controller.dart b/lib/controllers/explore_story_controller.dart
index 3528077f..7a453986 100644
--- a/lib/controllers/explore_story_controller.dart
+++ b/lib/controllers/explore_story_controller.dart
@@ -198,8 +198,11 @@ class ExploreStoryController extends GetxController {
       userData['docId'] = doc.$id;
       userData['uid'] = doc.$id;
       userData['userName'] = userData['username'];
+      final ratingTotal = userData['ratingTotal'] ?? 0;
+      final ratingCount = userData['ratingCount'] ?? 0;
+
       userData['userRating'] =
-          userData['ratingTotal'] / userData['ratingCount'];
+          ratingCount > 0 ? ratingTotal / ratingCount : 0.0;
       log(userData['userRating'].toString());
       Future.delayed(Duration(seconds: 1));
       ResonateUser user = ResonateUser.fromJson(userData);
@@ -217,8 +220,11 @@ class ExploreStoryController extends GetxController {
       userData['docId'] = doc['\$id'];
       userData['uid'] = doc['\$id'];
       userData['userName'] = userData['username'];
+      final ratingTotal = userData['ratingTotal'] ?? 0;
+      final ratingCount = userData['ratingCount'] ?? 0;
+
       userData['userRating'] =
-          userData['ratingTotal'] / userData['ratingCount'];
+          ratingCount > 0 ? ratingTotal / ratingCount : 0.0;
       log(userData['userRating'].toString());
       Future.delayed(Duration(seconds: 1));
       ResonateUser user = ResonateUser.fromJson(userData);