diff --git a/src/model/UserDataSource.ts b/src/model/UserDataSource.ts
index b4848f86..aa5f4bc8 100644
--- a/src/model/UserDataSource.ts
+++ b/src/model/UserDataSource.ts
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export default class UserDataSource extends MongoDataSource<User> {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Update user profile.  Create a new user object if not defined.
+   * Update user profile.  Create a new user object if not defined.  Optional fields (displayName, bio, website, avatar) can take blank ("") and null.  Blank to clear the field; null to skip the update.
    * @param updater UUID of the account doing the update
    * @param input profile params
    * @returns true if successful
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ export default class UserDataSource extends MongoDataSource<User> {
       throw new Error('Nothing to update. Must provide at least one field.')
     }
 
-    if (website != null && !isValidUrl(website)) {
+    if (website !== '' && website != null && !isValidUrl(website)) {
       throw new Error('Invalid website address.')
     }
 
@@ -266,7 +266,11 @@ const isValidUsername = (username?: string): boolean => {
   )
 }
 
+/**
+ * Validate non-empty and non-null url
+ */
 const isValidUrl = (url: string): boolean => {
+  if (url == null) return false
   try {
     const newUrl = new URL(url)
     return newUrl.protocol === 'http:' || newUrl.protocol === 'https:'
diff --git a/src/model/__tests__/UserDataSource.ts b/src/model/__tests__/UserDataSource.ts
index 2571eebf..2921b247 100644
--- a/src/model/__tests__/UserDataSource.ts
+++ b/src/model/__tests__/UserDataSource.ts
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ describe('UserDataSource', () => {
 
     await users.createOrUpdateUserProfile(updater, input)
 
-    const u2 = await users.getUserPublicProfile(username)
+    let u2 = await users.getUserPublicProfile(username)
 
     // check selected fields
     expect(u2).toMatchObject({
@@ -83,6 +83,20 @@ describe('UserDataSource', () => {
     })
 
     expect(u2?._id.toUUID().toString()).toEqual(input.userUuid)
+
+    // should allow website as an empty string to clear existing value
+    await users.createOrUpdateUserProfile(updater, { userUuid: input.userUuid, website: '' })
+
+    u2 = await users.getUserPublicProfile(username)
+
+    // verify
+    expect(u2).toMatchObject({
+      username: input.username,
+      displayName: input.displayName,
+      bio: input.bio,
+      website: '',
+      email: input.email
+    })
   })
 
   it('should require an email when creating new profile', async () => {