diff --git a/modules/user/models/user.php b/modules/user/models/user.php
index 9871ca00..4404ee63 100644
--- a/modules/user/models/user.php
+++ b/modules/user/models/user.php
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ class User_Model extends ORM implements User_Definition {
       return;
     }
 
-    if (!$this->loaded() || $this->password_length) {
+    if (!$this->loaded() || isset($this->password_length)) {
       $minimum_length = module::get_var("user", "mininum_password_length", 5);
       if ($this->password_length < $minimum_length) {
         $v->add_error("password", "min_length");