diff --git a/app/models/patreon_pledge.rb b/app/models/patreon_pledge.rb
index 13def5d5..70b6b979 100644
--- a/app/models/patreon_pledge.rb
+++ b/app/models/patreon_pledge.rb
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def tier_name
 
   private
   def add_role_to_user
-    email = parsed_json["attributes"]["email"]
+    email = parsed_json["attributes"]["email"].to_s.downcase
     user = User.find_by("email = ? or username = ?", email, name)
     # if we can't find the user by the email, will have to assign later manually
     if user.present? && tier_name.present?