diff --git a/rapids/models.py b/rapids/models.py
index baf4076e..3f26658f 100644
--- a/rapids/models.py
+++ b/rapids/models.py
@@ -722,6 +722,7 @@ class CidUserAnswer(models.Model):
         return super(CidUserAnswer, self).save(*args, **kwargs)
 
     def clean(self):
+        self.score = Answer.MarkOptions.UNMARKED
         if self.answer:
             self.answer = self.answer.strip()
 
@@ -729,6 +730,9 @@ class CidUserAnswer(models.Model):
             s = s.translate(str.maketrans("", "", string.punctuation.replace("#", ""))).strip()
 
             self.answer_compare = s
+        else:
+            self.answer = ""
+            self.answer_compare = ""
 
     # def get_compare_string(self):
     #     # strip here should be unneccasry (providing clean is now working)