diff --git a/src/server/api/routers/time-entries.ts b/src/server/api/routers/time-entries.ts
index 0c76877..91e585c 100644
--- a/src/server/api/routers/time-entries.ts
+++ b/src/server/api/routers/time-entries.ts
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ export const timeEntriesRouter = createTRPCRouter({
         });
       }
 
-      const clientId = input.clientId?.trim() ?? null;
+      const clientId = input.clientId?.trim() || null;
       let clientRecord: { defaultHourlyRate: number | null } | null = null;
       if (clientId) {
         const found = await ctx.db.query.clients.findFirst({
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ export const timeEntriesRouter = createTRPCRouter({
   create: protectedProcedure
     .input(createSchema)
     .mutation(async ({ ctx, input }) => {
-      const clientId = input.clientId?.trim() ?? null;
+      const clientId = input.clientId?.trim() || null;
       if (clientId) {
         const client = await ctx.db.query.clients.findFirst({
           where: and(eq(clients.id, clientId), eq(clients.createdById, ctx.session.user.id)),