diff --git c/src/systemd/cockpit.socket.in w/src/systemd/cockpit.socket.in
index de45b0dc9..a1dccef7f 100644
--- c/src/systemd/cockpit.socket.in
+++ w/src/systemd/cockpit.socket.in
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Wants=cockpit-issue.service
 
 [Socket]
 ListenStream=9090
+ExecStartPre=@libexecdir@/check_cockpit_users
 ExecStartPost=-@datadir@/@PACKAGE@/issue/update-issue '' localhost
 ExecStartPost=-/bin/ln -snf active.issue /run/cockpit/issue
 ExecStopPost=-/bin/ln -snf inactive.issue /run/cockpit/issue