diff --git a/todo/settings.py b/todo/settings.py
index 005e736..e6d909d 100644
--- a/todo/settings.py
+++ b/todo/settings.py
@@ -1,16 +1,10 @@
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 
-
-class MissingSuperuserException(Exception):
-    pass
-
-try:
-    first_superuser = User.objects.filter(is_superuser=True)[0]
-except:
-    raise MissingSuperuserException('django-todo requires at least one superuser in the database')
+def missing_defaults():
+	raise AttributeError('django-todo requires settings TODO_DEFAULT_ASSIGNEE and TODO_PUBLIC_SUBMIT_REDIRECT for anonymous ticket submissions.')
 
 STAFF_ONLY = getattr(settings, 'TODO_STAFF_ONLY', False)
-DEFAULT_ASSIGNEE = getattr(settings, 'TODO_DEFAULT_ASSIGNEE', first_superuser.username)
 DEFAULT_LIST_ID = getattr(settings, 'TODO_DEFAULT_LIST_ID', 1)
+DEFAULT_ASSIGNEE = getattr(settings, 'TODO_DEFAULT_ASSIGNEE', missing_defaults)
 PUBLIC_SUBMIT_REDIRECT = getattr(settings, 'TODO_PUBLIC_SUBMIT_REDIRECT', '/')
diff --git a/todo/views.py b/todo/views.py
index 8636c6c..6fe9f98 100644
--- a/todo/views.py
+++ b/todo/views.py
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ def external_add(request):
 
             messages.success(request, "Your trouble ticket has been submitted. We'll get back to you soon.")
 
-            return HttpResponseRedirect(reverse(settings.PUBLIC_SUBMIT_REDIRECT))
+            return HttpResponseRedirect(settings.PUBLIC_SUBMIT_REDIRECT)
     else:
         form = AddExternalItemForm()