diff --git a/lib/moodlelib.php b/lib/moodlelib.php
index ef45af7e34f..ef28c8f1ae1 100644
--- a/lib/moodlelib.php
+++ b/lib/moodlelib.php
@@ -2870,6 +2870,10 @@ function create_user_record($username, $password, $auth='manual') {
         }
     }
 
+    if (!isset($newuser->city)) {
+        $newuser->city = '';
+    }
+
     $newuser->auth = $auth;
     $newuser->username = $username;