diff --git a/src/meta.js b/src/meta.js
index 746a94a62d..8438f9041b 100644
--- a/src/meta.js
+++ b/src/meta.js
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ var async = require('async'),
 
 	/* Assorted */
 	Meta.userOrGroupExists = function(slug, callback) {
+		slug = utils.slugify(slug);
 		async.parallel([
 			async.apply(user.existsBySlug, slug),
 			async.apply(groups.existsBySlug, slug)
diff --git a/src/socket.io/user.js b/src/socket.io/user.js
index 3a19d62d63..ca7245c21c 100644
--- a/src/socket.io/user.js
+++ b/src/socket.io/user.js
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ require('./user/picture')(SocketUser);
 
 SocketUser.exists = function(socket, data, callback) {
 	if (data && data.username) {
-		meta.userOrGroupExists(utils.slugify(data.username), callback);
+		meta.userOrGroupExists(data.username, callback);
 	}
 };