diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
 
   before_save :encrypt_new_password
   before_save :assign_default_site
+  before_save :assign_default_contest
 
   # this is for will_paginate
   cattr_reader :per_page
@@ -273,6 +274,19 @@
       end
     end
 
+    def assign_default_contest
+      # have to catch error when migrating (because self.site is not available).
+      begin
+        if self.contests.length == 0
+          default_contest = Contest.find_by_name(Configuration['contest.default_contest_name'])
+          if default_contest
+            self.contests = [default_contest]
+          end
+        end
+      rescue
+      end
+    end
+
     def password_required?
       self.hashed_password.blank? || !self.password.blank?
     end