# only set handler if specified explicitly or if bug was not assigned to a handler
    if( null == $p_handler_id ) {
        if( bug_get_field( $p_bug_id, 'handler_id' ) == 0 ) {
            $p_handler_id = auth_get_current_user_id();
            bug_set_field( $p_bug_id, 'handler_id', $p_handler_id );
        }
    } else {
        bug_set_field( $p_bug_id, 'handler_id', $p_handler_id );
    }