diff --git a/pylast.py b/pylast.py
index edf8184..ef1a89d 100644
--- a/pylast.py
+++ b/pylast.py
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ class _Network(object):
     def is_caching_enabled(self):
         """Returns True if caching is enabled."""
 
-        return not (self.cache_backend == None)
+        return not (self.cache_backend is None)
 
     def _get_cache_backend(self):
 
@@ -3052,7 +3052,12 @@ class User(_BaseObject):
 
         doc = self._request("user.getInfo", True)
 
-        return Country(_extract(doc, "country"), self.network)
+        country = _extract(doc, "country")
+
+        if country is None:
+            return None
+        else:
+            return Country(country, self.network)
 
     def get_age(self):
         """Returns the user's age."""
diff --git a/test_pylast.py b/test_pylast.py
index dc2a562..fb30c7c 100644
--- a/test_pylast.py
+++ b/test_pylast.py
@@ -108,6 +108,26 @@ class TestSequenceFunctions(unittest.TestCase):
         # Just check date because of timezones
         self.assertEquals(unixtime_registered, u"1037793040")
 
+    def test_get_genderless_user(self):
+        # Arrange
+        lastfm_user = self.network.get_user("test_user") # currently no gender set
+
+        # Act
+        gender = lastfm_user.get_gender()
+
+        # Assert
+        self.assertIsNone(gender)
+
+
+    def test_get_countryless_user(self):
+        # Arrange
+        lastfm_user = self.network.get_user("test_user") # currently no country set
+
+        # Act
+        country = lastfm_user.get_country()
+
+        # Assert
+        self.assertIsNone(country)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()