diff --git a/lib/io/ioserver.js b/lib/io/ioserver.js
index 09cb12b4..5a2af30e 100644
--- a/lib/io/ioserver.js
+++ b/lib/io/ioserver.js
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ function addTypecheckedFunctions(sock) {
  */
 function handleConnection(sock) {
     var ip = sock.handshake.address.address;
+    var sockUser = sock.handshake.user;
     if (net.isIPv6(ip)) {
         ip = util.expandIPv6(ip);
     }
@@ -158,10 +159,10 @@ function handleConnection(sock) {
     addTypecheckedFunctions(sock);
 
     var user = new User(sock);
-    if (sock.handshake.user) {
+    if (sockUser) {
         user.setFlag(Flags.U_REGISTERED);
         user.clearFlag(Flags.U_READY);
-        user.refreshAccount({ name: sock.handshake.user.name },
+        user.refreshAccount({ name: sockUser.name },
                             function (err, account) {
             if (err) {
                 user.clearFlag(Flags.U_REGISTERED);