diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index ec5ae56..ecda986 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -344,9 +344,8 @@ def api_update_member_role(
         "admin": 2,
         "owner": 3,
     }
-
-    current_role = role_levels.get(get_role(room_id, current_user), 0)
-    target_role = role_levels.get(get_role(room_id, user_id), 0)
+    current_role = get_role(room_id, current_user) or 0
+    target_role = get_role(room_id, user_id) or 0
 
     if current_role is None:
         raise HTTPException(
diff --git a/backend/permissions.py b/backend/permissions.py
index bfbba80..5ac0c3a 100644
--- a/backend/permissions.py
+++ b/backend/permissions.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ ROLE_LEVELS = {
 }
 
 
-def get_role(room_id: int, user_id: int) -> str | None:
+def get_role(room_id: int, user_id: int) -> int | None:
     member = fetch_one(
         """
         SELECT role
@@ -22,7 +22,13 @@ def get_role(room_id: int, user_id: int) -> str | None:
     if member is None:
         return None
 
-    return member["role"]
+    role_levels = {
+        "member": 1,
+        "admin": 2,
+        "owner": 3,
+    }
+
+    return role_levels.get(member["role"])
 
 
 def has_role(