diff --git a/flaschengeist/models/user.py b/flaschengeist/models/user.py
index 11df9e5..dc68ddb 100644
--- a/flaschengeist/models/user.py
+++ b/flaschengeist/models/user.py
@@ -70,8 +70,10 @@ class User(db.Model, ModelSerializeMixin):
     def has_attribute(self, name):
         return name in self._attributes
 
-    def get_attribute(self, name):
-        return self._attributes[name].value
+    def get_attribute(self, name, default=None):
+        if name in self._attributes:
+            return self._attributes[name].value
+        return default
 
     def get_permissions(self):
         return ["user"] + [permission.name for role in self.roles for permission in role.permissions]
@@ -85,4 +87,4 @@ class _UserAttribute(db.Model, ModelSerializeMixin):
     id = db.Column("id", db.Integer, primary_key=True)
     user: User = db.Column("user", db.Integer, db.ForeignKey("user.id"), nullable=False)
     name: str = db.Column(db.String(30))
-    value: str = db.Column(db.String(192))
+    value: any = db.Column(db.PickleType(protocol=4))