diff --git a/src/backend/database.py b/src/backend/database.py
index 58fa213..29b082d 100644
--- a/src/backend/database.py
+++ b/src/backend/database.py
@@ -658,12 +658,16 @@ class Database:
         Returns:
             Optional[int]: the id of the professor, if the professor is not found, None is returned
         """
-
+        # get list of all current profs
+        profs = self.getProfs()
+        if profs == []:
+            return 1
         data = self.getProfByName(prof_name.replace(",", ""))
         if data is None:
             # get last used id and return id + 1
             profno = self.query_db("SELECT id FROM prof ORDER BY id DESC", one=True)[0]
             return profno + 1
+
             # return None
         else:
             return data[0]