diff --git a/statsig/statsig_server.py b/statsig/statsig_server.py
index 378ea78..e99c967 100644
--- a/statsig/statsig_server.py
+++ b/statsig/statsig_server.py
@@ -142,9 +142,9 @@ def _verify_inputs(self, user: object, variable_name: str):
         if not self._initialized:
             raise RuntimeError(
                 'Must call initialize before checking gates/configs/experiments or logging events')
-        if not user or not user.user_id:
+        if not user or (not user.user_id and not user.custom_ids):
             raise ValueError(
-                'A non-empty StatsigUser.user_id is required. See https://docs.statsig.com/messages/serverRequiredUserID')
+                'A non-empty StatsigUser with user_id or custom_ids is required. See https://docs.statsig.com/messages/serverRequiredUserID')
         if not variable_name:
             return False
 
diff --git a/statsig/statsig_user.py b/statsig/statsig_user.py
index 175b415..763e6d8 100644
--- a/statsig/statsig_user.py
+++ b/statsig/statsig_user.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ def _str_or_none(field):
 @dataclass
 class StatsigUser:
     """An object of properties relating to the current user
-    user_id is required: learn more https://docs.statsig.com/messages/serverRequiredUserID
+    user_id or at least a custom ID is required: learn more https://docs.statsig.com/messages/serverRequiredUserID
     Provide as many as possible to take advantage of advanced conditions in the statsig console
     A dictionary of additional fields can be provided under the custom field
     Set private_attributes for any user property you need for gate evaluation but prefer stripped from logs/metrics
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class StatsigUser:
 
     def __post_init__(self):
         # ensure there is a user id or at least a custom ID, empty dict evaluates to false in python so we can use "not" operator to check
-        if (self.user_id is None or self.user_id == "") and (self.custom_ids is None or not self.custom_ids):
+        if not self.user_id and not self.custom_ids:
             raise ValueError(
                 'user_id or at least a custom ID is required: learn more https://docs.statsig.com/messages/serverRequiredUserID')
 
diff --git a/statsig/version.py b/statsig/version.py
index 8969d49..1f04780 100644
--- a/statsig/version.py
+++ b/statsig/version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = '0.9.1'
+__version__ = '0.9.2'