diff --git a/app/models.py b/app/models.py
index 25d4d83..7b6a4c6 100644
--- a/app/models.py
+++ b/app/models.py
@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@ followers = db.Table('followers',
 )
 
 channel_association = db.Table('channel_association',
-    db.Column('channel_id', db.String, db.ForeignKey('channel.id')),
+    db.Column('channel_id', db.String(30), db.ForeignKey('channel.id')),
     db.Column('user_id', db.Integer, db.ForeignKey('user.id'))
 ) # Association: CHANNEL --followed by--> [USERS]
 
 twitter_association = db.Table('twitter_association',
-    db.Column('account_id', db.String, db.ForeignKey('twitterAccount.id')),
+    db.Column('account_id', db.String(30), db.ForeignKey('twitterAccount.id')),
     db.Column('user_id', db.Integer, db.ForeignKey('user.id'))
 ) # Association: ACCOUNT --followed by--> [USERS]
 
diff --git a/app/routes.py b/app/routes.py
index 2f58d96..07be4ea 100644
--- a/app/routes.py
+++ b/app/routes.py
@@ -486,14 +486,16 @@ def allowed_file(filename):
 
 @app.route('/register', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
 def register():
-    count = db.session.query(User).count()
     if current_user.is_authenticated:
         return redirect(url_for('index'))
 
     REGISTRATIONS = True
-    if count >= config['maxInstanceUsers'] or config['maxInstanceUsers'] == 0:
-        REGISTRATIONS = False
-        
+    try:
+        count = db.session.query(User).count()
+        if count >= config['maxInstanceUsers'] or config['maxInstanceUsers'] == 0:
+            REGISTRATIONS = False
+    except:
+        REGISTRATIONS = True
     form = RegistrationForm()
     if form.validate_on_submit():
         if User.query.filter_by(username=form.username.data).first():