diff --git a/conf.py b/conf.py
index 4141f82..225c442 100644
--- a/conf.py
+++ b/conf.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def validateConf(conf, logger=None):
 
     assert conf['login'].get('password') != "changeme", "You have not set the login details correctly!"
 
-    if conf['login'].get('accounts'):
+    if newlogins:
         assert conf.get('permissions'), "New-style accounts enabled but no permissions block was found. You will not be able to administrate your PyLink instance!"
 
     return conf