diff --git a/tailbone/views/users.py b/tailbone/views/users.py
index f8bcb1b8..9eae74d8 100644
--- a/tailbone/views/users.py
+++ b/tailbone/views/users.py
@@ -208,9 +208,13 @@ class UserView(PrincipalMasterView):
                             person_display = str(person)
                 elif self.editing:
                     person_display = str(user.person or '')
-                people_url = self.request.route_url('people.autocomplete')
-                f.set_widget('person_uuid', forms.widgets.JQueryAutocompleteWidget(
-                    field_display=person_display, service_url=people_url))
+                try:
+                    people_url = self.request.route_url('people.autocomplete')
+                except KeyError:
+                    pass        # TODO: wutta compat
+                else:
+                    f.set_widget('person_uuid', forms.widgets.JQueryAutocompleteWidget(
+                        field_display=person_display, service_url=people_url))
                 f.set_validator('person_uuid', self.valid_person)
                 f.set_label('person_uuid', "Person")