diff --git a/app/controllers/registrations_controller.rb b/app/controllers/registrations_controller.rb
index 59f0783dd4..3349b33b71 100644
--- a/app/controllers/registrations_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/registrations_controller.rb
@@ -22,23 +22,20 @@ def destroy
   end
 
   def create
-    unless params[:owner_slug].blank?
-      @owner = User.where(slug: params[:owner_slug]).first
-    end
+    @owner = User.find_by(slug: params[:owner_slug]) if params[:owner_slug].present?
 
-    #merge the new user information into the guest user id to change into normal user
-    if current_user && current_user.guest?
+    # Merge the new user information into the guest user id to change into normal user
+    if current_user&.guest?
       @user = current_user
       @user.update(sign_up_params)
       @user.guest = false
-      
     else
       @user = build_resource(sign_up_params)
     end
 
-    #this is the default Devise code
+    # This is the default Devise code
     yield resource if block_given?
-      
+
     if check_recaptcha(model: @user) && @user.save
       # Record the `joined` deed based on Ahoy Visit
       join_collection = joined_from_collection(current_visit.id)
@@ -61,7 +58,7 @@ def create
       if session[:guest_user_id]
         session[:guest_user_id] = nil
       end
-      
+
       if @user.owner
         @user.account_type="Trial"
         @user.save
@@ -73,7 +70,8 @@ def create
       if @validatable
         @minimum_password_length = resource_class.password_length.min
       end
-      respond_with resource
+
+      after_failed_sign_up_action_for(params[:registration_type]&.to_sym)
     end
   end
 
@@ -95,7 +93,6 @@ def update
     end
   end
 
-
   def set_saml
     institution = saml_provider_param
     redirect_to user_omniauth_authorize_path(institution)  #go to users/auth/saml/instution_name
@@ -114,7 +111,7 @@ def alert_bento()
   def after_sign_up_path_for(resource)
     if @user.owner
       # Always send new owners to their dashboard for analytics purposes
-      "#{dashboard_owner_path}#freetrial" 
+      "#{dashboard_owner_path}#freetrial"
     else
       # New users should be returned to where they were or to their dashboard/watchlist
       if session[:user_return_to] && !landing_pages.include?(session[:user_return_to])
@@ -131,6 +128,15 @@ def after_update_path_for(resource)
     edit_registration_path(resource)
   end
 
+  def after_failed_sign_up_action_for(registration_type)
+    case registration_type
+    when :free_trial
+      render :new_trial
+    else
+      render :new
+    end
+  end
+
   def check_recaptcha(options)
     return verify_recaptcha(options) if RECAPTCHA_ENABLED
     true
diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index d656a51f75..7da009f26a 100644
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -150,8 +150,9 @@ def email_does_not_match_denylist
     end
   end
 
-
   def update_display_name
+    self.real_name = nil if self.real_name.blank?
+
     if self.owner
       self.display_name = self.real_name
     else
@@ -287,9 +288,9 @@ def like_owner?(obj)
 
   def display_name
     if self.guest
-      "Guest"
+      'Guest'
     else
-      self[:display_name] || self[:login]
+      self[:display_name].presence || self[:login]
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/app/views/devise/registrations/new_trial.html.slim b/app/views/devise/registrations/new_trial.html.slim
index fd058cf80a..4867812a55 100644
--- a/app/views/devise/registrations/new_trial.html.slim
+++ b/app/views/devise/registrations/new_trial.html.slim
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@ section.signon
     <br><br>
     ==t('.just_want_to_transcribe', sign_up_here: (link_to t('.sign_up_here'), new_user_registration_path))
 
-
-  =form_for(resource, as: resource_name, url: registration_path(resource_name)) do |f|
+  =form_for(resource, as: resource_name, url: registration_path(resource_name, registration_type: :free_trial)) do |f|
     =devise_error_messages!
     .signon_field
       =f.label :login, t('.login')
@@ -37,4 +36,4 @@ section.signon
       =f.check_box :activity_email, checked: true
       =f.label :receive_activity_emails, t('devise.receive_activity_emails')
     <br>
-    =f.button t('devise.create_account'), class: 'big'
\ No newline at end of file
+    =f.button t('devise.create_account'), class: 'big'