diff --git a/EmployeeDirectory/Views/EmployeeTableViewCell.swift b/EmployeeDirectory/Views/EmployeeTableViewCell.swift
index 6a3634a..722cfd8 100644
--- a/EmployeeDirectory/Views/EmployeeTableViewCell.swift
+++ b/EmployeeDirectory/Views/EmployeeTableViewCell.swift
@@ -128,11 +128,10 @@ public class EmployeeTableViewCell: UITableViewCell {
 
         // Bind the image to the photoImageView
         smallPhotoSubscriber = viewModel.$smallPhoto
+            .compactMap { $0 }
             .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
             .sink { [weak self] image in
-                if let image {
-                    self?.photoImageView.image = image
-                }
+                self?.photoImageView.image = image
             }
 
         // Bind data to UI components