diff --git a/apps/user_ldap/user_ldap.php b/apps/user_ldap/user_ldap.php
index d24af5e2f82a5ace4097208a18292c0c5eae28fb..0fa621194c82c4a7ad2b091a165b64f66bf57c42 100755
--- a/apps/user_ldap/user_ldap.php
+++ b/apps/user_ldap/user_ldap.php
@@ -185,14 +185,6 @@ class OC_USER_LDAP extends OC_User_Backend {
 
 	}
 
-	public function userExists( $uid ) {
-		if(!$this->configured){
-			return false;
-		}
-		$dn = $this->getDc($uid);
-		return !empty($dn);
-	}
-
 	/**
 	 * @brief Get a list of all users
 	 * @returns array with all uids
@@ -205,6 +197,15 @@ class OC_USER_LDAP extends OC_User_Backend {
 		return $users;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * @brief check if a user exists
+	 * @param string $uid the username
+	 * @return boolean
+	 */
+	public static function userExists($uid){
+		return in_array($uid, self::getUsers());
+	}
+
 
 }