diff --git a/zerver/lib/actions.py b/zerver/lib/actions.py
index 67b32128c1..5cf9f11cb3 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/actions.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/actions.py
@@ -168,11 +168,13 @@ def compute_mit_user_fullname(email):
             answer = DNS.dnslookup(
                 "%s.passwd.ns.athena.mit.edu" % (match_user.group(1),),
                 DNS.Type.TXT)
-            hesiod_name = answer[0].split(':')[4].split(',')[0].strip()
+            hesiod_name = answer[0][0].split(':')[4].split(',')[0].strip()
             if hesiod_name != "":
                 return hesiod_name
         elif match_user:
             return match_user.group(1).lower() + "@" + match_user.group(2).upper()[1:]
+    except DNS.Base.ServerError:
+        pass
     except:
         print ("Error getting fullname for %s:" % (email,))
         traceback.print_exc()