diff --git a/public/src/app.js b/public/src/app.js
index 233d734264..2cc6f99f1e 100644
--- a/public/src/app.js
+++ b/public/src/app.js
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ var socket,
 		});
 	};
 
-	app.updateHeader = function(data) {
+	app.updateHeader = function(err, data) {
 		$('#search-button').off().on('click', function(e) {
 			e.stopPropagation();
 			$('#search-fields').removeClass('hide').show();
diff --git a/public/src/forum/register.js b/public/src/forum/register.js
index f49bfa3e7e..58f340b54c 100644
--- a/public/src/forum/register.js
+++ b/public/src/forum/register.js
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ define(function() {
 				socket.emit('user.emailExists', {
 					email: emailEl.val()
 				}, function(exists) {
-					if (exists === true) {
+					if (exists) {
 						showError(email_notify, 'Email address already taken!');
 					} else {
 						showSuccess(email_notify, successIcon);
@@ -73,6 +73,16 @@ define(function() {
 			} else {
 				socket.emit('user.exists', {
 					username: username.val()
+				}, function(err, exists) {
+					if(err) {
+						return app.alertError(err.message);
+					}
+
+					if (exists) {
+						showError(username_notify, 'Username already taken!');
+					} else {
+						showSuccess(username_notify, successIcon);
+					}
 				});
 			}
 		}
@@ -80,6 +90,7 @@ define(function() {
 		username.on('keyup', function() {
 			jQuery('#yourUsername').html(this.value.length > 0 ? this.value : 'username');
 		});
+
 		username.on('blur', function() {
 			validateUsername();
 		});
@@ -123,16 +134,6 @@ define(function() {
 			validatePasswordConfirm();
 		});
 
-		ajaxify.register_events(['user.exists', 'user.emailExists']);
-
-		socket.on('user.exists', function(data) {
-			if (data.exists === true) {
-				showError(username_notify, 'Username already taken!');
-			} else {
-				showSuccess(username_notify, successIcon);
-			}
-		});
-
 		function validateForm() {
 			validationError = false;
 
diff --git a/src/socket.io/meta.js b/src/socket.io/meta.js
index 58e0bea56d..b0a6e90f59 100644
--- a/src/socket.io/meta.js
+++ b/src/socket.io/meta.js
@@ -38,13 +38,19 @@ SocketMeta.buildTitle = function(socket, text, callback) {
 SocketMeta.updateHeader = function(socket, data, callback) {
 	if (socket.uid) {
 		user.getUserFields(socket.uid, data.fields, function(err, fields) {
-			if (!err && fields) {
+			if(err) {
+				return callback(err);
+			}
+
+			if (fields) {
 				fields.uid = socket.uid;
-				callback(fields);
+				callback(null, fields);
+			} else {
+				callback([]);
 			}
 		});
 	} else {
-		callback({
+		callback(null, {
 			uid: 0,
 			username: "Anonymous User",
 			email: '',