diff --git a/ghost/members-api/lib/services/stripe-api/index.js b/ghost/members-api/lib/services/stripe-api/index.js
index be6e8cab79..c8fce41703 100644
--- a/ghost/members-api/lib/services/stripe-api/index.js
+++ b/ghost/members-api/lib/services/stripe-api/index.js
@@ -337,12 +337,13 @@ module.exports = class StripeAPIService {
      */
     async createCheckoutSession(plan, customer, options) {
         const metadata = options.metadata || undefined;
+        const customerEmail = customer ? customer.email : options.customerEmail;
         await this._rateLimitBucket.throttle();
         const session = await this._stripe.checkout.sessions.create({
             payment_method_types: ['card'],
             success_url: options.successUrl,
             cancel_url: options.cancelUrl,
-            customer_email: customer.email || options.customerEmail,
+            customer_email: customerEmail,
             // @ts-ignore - we need to update to latest stripe library to correctly use newer features
             allow_promotion_codes: this._config.enablePromoCodes,
             metadata,