diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 9e3c3cfa..c5974c86 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Version 1.99.4 (2011-12-31 11:58:15) stable
+Version 1.99.4 (2011-12-31 12:00:38) stable
diff --git a/gluon/tools.py b/gluon/tools.py
index ab2740df..1fd91108 100644
--- a/gluon/tools.py
+++ b/gluon/tools.py
@@ -1619,7 +1619,8 @@ class Auth(object):
             username = 'username'
         else:
             username = 'email'
-        if username in table_user.fields or not self.settings.login_email_validate:
+        if 'username' in table_user.fields or \
+                not self.settings.login_email_validate:
             tmpvalidator = IS_NOT_EMPTY(error_message=self.messages.is_empty)
         else:
             tmpvalidator = IS_EMAIL(error_message=self.messages.invalid_email)