diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Identity.Core/ClaimsIdentityFactory.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Identity.Core/ClaimsIdentityFactory.cs
index da2f755..a53b817 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Identity.Core/ClaimsIdentityFactory.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Identity.Core/ClaimsIdentityFactory.cs
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ public virtual async Task<ClaimsIdentity> CreateAsync(UserManager<TUser, TKey> m
             }
             if (manager.SupportsUserRole)
             {
-                IList<string> roles = await manager.GetRolesAsync(user.Id).WithCurrentCulture();
+                IList<string> roles = await manager.GetRolesAsync(user.Id).WithCurrentCulture() ?? [];
                 foreach (string roleName in roles)
                 {
                     id.AddClaim(new Claim(RoleClaimType, roleName, ClaimValueTypes.String));
@@ -128,4 +128,4 @@ public virtual string ConvertIdToString(TKey key)
             return key.ToString();
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}