diff --git a/include/class.staff.php b/include/class.staff.php
index 7f2392b5158708f7fb4bb0e3eafd10e1eccbcfd3..2b0471a4cabca3f7c254482ce1f0fcd878e1b0c9 100644
--- a/include/class.staff.php
+++ b/include/class.staff.php
@@ -477,10 +477,13 @@ implements AuthenticatedUser, EmailContact, TemplateVariable, Searchable {
         if (is_null($dept))
             return $this->role;
 
-        if ((!$dept instanceof Dept) && !($dept=Dept::lookup($dept)))
-            return null;
+       if (is_numeric($dept))
+          $deptId = $dept;
+       elseif($dept instanceof Dept)
+          $deptId = $dept->getId();
+       else
+          return null;
 
-        $deptId = $dept->getId();
         $roles = $this->getRoles();
         if (isset($roles[$deptId]))
             return $roles[$deptId];