diff --git a/src/controllers/challenges.js b/src/controllers/challenges.js
index dde8011a47..5b9efaf2be 100644
--- a/src/controllers/challenges.js
+++ b/src/controllers/challenges.js
@@ -71,13 +71,14 @@ api.list = function(req, res) {
         {group: 'habitrpg'}
       ]
     })
-    .select('name description memberCount group members')
+    .select('name description group members')
     .populate('group', '_id name')
     .exec(function(err, challenges){
       if (err) return res.json(500,{err:err});
       _.each(challenges, function(c){
         c._isMember = !!~c.members.indexOf(user._id);
-        c.members = [];
+        c.memberCount = _.size(c.members);
+        c.members = undefined;
       })
       res.json(challenges);
     });
diff --git a/src/models/challenge.js b/src/models/challenge.js
index 3ce8b950ed..2ba42aec28 100644
--- a/src/models/challenge.js
+++ b/src/models/challenge.js
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ ChallengeSchema.pre('save', function(next){
 
 ChallengeSchema.methods.toJSON = function(){
   var doc = this.toObject();
-  doc.memberCount = _.size(doc.members); // @see pre('save') comment above
+  doc.memberCount = doc.members ? _.size(doc.members) : doc.memberCount; // @see pre('save') comment above
   doc._isMember = this._isMember;
   return doc;
 }