diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/tiktok.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/tiktok.py
index 973bd224..f4508066 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/tiktok.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/tiktok.py
@@ -42,8 +42,7 @@ class TiktokExtractor(Extractor):
                 continue
 
             post = video_detail["itemInfo"]["itemStruct"]
-            author = post["author"]
-            post["user"] = author["uniqueId"]
+            post["user"] = (a := post.get("author")) and a["uniqueId"] or ""
             post["date"] = text.parse_timestamp(post["createTime"])
             original_title = title = post["desc"]
 
diff --git a/test/results/tiktok.py b/test/results/tiktok.py
index 6910eb0b..21eb0f9b 100644
--- a/test/results/tiktok.py
+++ b/test/results/tiktok.py
@@ -181,6 +181,13 @@ __tests__ = (
     "#class"    : tiktok.TiktokPostExtractor,
 },
 
+{
+    "#url"     : "https://www.tiktok.com/@veronicaperasso_1/video/7212008840433274118",
+    "#comment" : "no 'author' (#8189)",
+    "#class"   : tiktok.TiktokPostExtractor,
+    "#results" : "ytdl:https://www.tiktok.com/@veronicaperasso_1/video/7212008840433274118",
+},
+
 {
     "#url"      : "https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdh4WUhr/",
     "#comment"  : "vm.tiktok.com link: many photos",