diff --git a/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/workspace/server/GWTWorkspaceServiceImpl.java b/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/workspace/server/GWTWorkspaceServiceImpl.java
index 38748b1..445a7ad 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/workspace/server/GWTWorkspaceServiceImpl.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/workspace/server/GWTWorkspaceServiceImpl.java
@@ -2663,6 +2663,9 @@ public class GWTWorkspaceServiceImpl extends RemoteServiceServlet implements GWT
 	 */
 	@Override
 	public String getMyFirstName(){
+		if(!isWithinPortal())
+			return "";
+
 		PortalContextInfo info = WsUtil.getPortalContext(this.getThreadLocalRequest());
 		String username = info.getUsername();
 		String firstName = "";