diff --git a/rowers/templates/list_courses.html b/rowers/templates/list_courses.html
index d247a90a..bd99a4f7 100644
--- a/rowers/templates/list_courses.html
+++ b/rowers/templates/list_courses.html
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
     </p>
     {% if location %}
     <p>
-      <a href="/rowers/list-courses/?nearby=true">Filter nearby courses</a>
+      <a href="/rowers/list-courses/?nearby=true">Filter courses closest to you</a>
       {{ city }} {{ country_name }} {{ time_zone }}
     </p>
     <p>
diff --git a/rowers/views/racesviews.py b/rowers/views/racesviews.py
index bd9c1964..e4826a76 100644
--- a/rowers/views/racesviews.py
+++ b/rowers/views/racesviews.py
@@ -86,9 +86,9 @@ def courses_view(request):
     except:
         lat_lon = None
         city = {
-            'city': None,
-            'country_name': None,
-            'time_zone': None,
+            'city': '',
+            'country_name': '',
+            'time_zone': '',
         }
 
 
@@ -745,9 +745,9 @@ def virtualevents_view(request):
     except:
         lat_lon = None
         city = {
-            'city': None,
-            'country_name': None,
-            'time_zone': None,
+            'city': '',
+            'country_name': '',
+            'time_zone': '',
         }
 
     # default races