diff --git a/app/controllers/users_controller.rb b/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
index 92588d9ca..dc5239d95 100644
--- a/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ class UsersController < ApplicationController
       return fail_with("login.password_too_long")
     end
 
-    if SiteSetting.reserved_usernames.include? params[:username].downcase
+    if SiteSetting.reserved_usernames.split("|").include? params[:username].downcase
       return fail_with("login.reserved_username")
     end