diff --git a/scp/staff.inc.php b/scp/staff.inc.php
index 77aa2c9b313900f2a38f0aad2872e4c64b22d266..54ff91b9976bc4e3ddbc558e07d5f205c1ee2d06 100644
--- a/scp/staff.inc.php
+++ b/scp/staff.inc.php
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ if(!$thisstaff || !is_object($thisstaff) || !$thisstaff->getId() || !$thisstaff-
         $msg = $_SESSION['_staff']['auth']['msg'];
         unset($_SESSION['_staff']['auth']['msg']);
     }
-    elseif ($thisstaff && !$thisstaff->isValid())
+    elseif (isset($_SESSION['_staff']['userID']) && !$thisstaff->isValid())
         $msg = 'Session timed out due to inactivity';
     else
         $msg = 'Authentication Required';