diff --git a/archiva-modules/archiva-web/archiva-web-common/src/main/java/org/apache/archiva/web/security/ArchivaConfigurableUsersManager.java b/archiva-modules/archiva-web/archiva-web-common/src/main/java/org/apache/archiva/web/security/ArchivaConfigurableUsersManager.java
index 7fd0776e1..2f2c51a8d 100644
--- a/archiva-modules/archiva-web/archiva-web-common/src/main/java/org/apache/archiva/web/security/ArchivaConfigurableUsersManager.java
+++ b/archiva-modules/archiva-web/archiva-web-common/src/main/java/org/apache/archiva/web/security/ArchivaConfigurableUsersManager.java
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ public class ArchivaConfigurableUsersManager
             }
         }
 
-        if ( user == null )
+        if ( user == null && lastException != null )
         {
             throw lastException;
         }