diff --git a/config/initializers/authentication.rb b/config/initializers/authentication.rb
index b16c4b090..72ad7deed 100644
--- a/config/initializers/authentication.rb
+++ b/config/initializers/authentication.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Check for authentication method and copy data over if necessary (ENV variable
 # to skip if necessary, skip if migrating from a pre-v4.1.0 DB or no table)
 unless ENV['SKIP_AUTH_INIT'] || !User.table_exists? ||
-       !User.respond_to?(:username)
+       !User.column_names.include?('username')
 
   user = User.first