diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index b8366db2..a2ab821f 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Version 1.99.3 (2011-12-09 09:26:27) dev
+Version 1.99.3 (2011-12-09 09:28:19) dev
diff --git a/gluon/tools.py b/gluon/tools.py
index a298494b..d3b4c7d7 100644
--- a/gluon/tools.py
+++ b/gluon/tools.py
@@ -1623,7 +1623,7 @@ 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)