diff --git a/server/initializers/checker.js b/server/initializers/checker.js
index 3831efb8d..871d3cac2 100644
--- a/server/initializers/checker.js
+++ b/server/initializers/checker.js
@@ -39,10 +39,10 @@ function clientsExist (callback) {
 }
 
 function usersExist (callback) {
-  User.list(function (err, users) {
+  User.count(function (err, totalUsers) {
     if (err) return callback(err)
 
-    return callback(null, users.length !== 0)
+    return callback(null, totalUsers !== 0)
   })
 }
 
diff --git a/server/models/user.js b/server/models/user.js
index 351ffef86..d289da19a 100644
--- a/server/models/user.js
+++ b/server/models/user.js
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ UserSchema.methods = {
 }
 
 UserSchema.statics = {
+  count: count,
   getByUsernameAndPassword: getByUsernameAndPassword,
   list: list,
   loadById: loadById,
@@ -29,6 +30,10 @@ mongoose.model('User', UserSchema)
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+function count (callback) {
+  return this.count(callback)
+}
+
 function getByUsernameAndPassword (username, password) {
   return this.findOne({ username: username, password: password })
 }