diff --git a/resolvers/author.py b/resolvers/author.py
index 2eba02ef..5a39a436 100644
--- a/resolvers/author.py
+++ b/resolvers/author.py
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ async def get_author(_, _info, slug='', author_id=0):
         if isinstance(author, Author):
             author_id = author.id
             logger.debug(f'found @{slug} with id {author_id}')
-        if not author.stat:
-            [author] = get_with_stat(author_query)
+        if not author.stat or not author.stat['rating']:
+            [author] = get_with_stat(author_query, with_rating=True)
             if author:
                 await set_author_cache(author.dict())
                 logger.debug('updated author stored in cache')
diff --git a/resolvers/stat.py b/resolvers/stat.py
index 650b772a..872a1559 100644
--- a/resolvers/stat.py
+++ b/resolvers/stat.py
@@ -162,13 +162,14 @@ def add_author_ratings(q):
     return q.join(ratings_subquery, Author.id == ratings_subquery.c.author_id)
 
 
-def get_with_stat(q):
+def get_with_stat(q, with_rating=False):
     try:
         is_author = f'{q}'.lower().startswith('select author')
         is_topic = f'{q}'.lower().startswith('select topic')
         if is_author:
             q = add_author_stat_columns(q)
-            q = add_author_ratings(q)  # TODO: move rating to cols down there
+            if with_rating:
+                q = add_author_ratings(q)
         elif is_topic:
             q = add_topic_stat_columns(q)
         records = []
@@ -184,8 +185,9 @@ def get_with_stat(q):
                 if is_author:
                     stat['comments'] = cols[4]
                     # entity.stat['topics'] = cols[5]
-                    entity.stat['rating'] = cols[5] - cols[6]
-                    entity.stat['rating_shouts'] = cols[7] - cols[8]
+                    if with_rating:
+                        entity.stat['rating'] = cols[5] - cols[6]
+                        entity.stat['rating_shouts'] = cols[7] - cols[8]
                 entity.stat = stat
                 records.append(entity)
     except Exception as exc: