diff --git a/html/login.php b/html/login.php
index 6ea26f9..5ba4de0 100644
--- a/html/login.php
+++ b/html/login.php
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ try {
     success("user $user found on server");
   } elseif ($q->num_rows==0) {
     $q = $db->query("insert into user (name, pubkey) values ('$user', '$pubkey');");
-    if (!q) error("creation of user failed");
+    if (!$q) error("creation of user failed");
     success("user $user created on server");
   } else {
     error("server database defect");