diff --git a/go/libkb/user.go b/go/libkb/user.go
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/go/libkb/user.go
+++ b/go/libkb/user.go
@@ -449,6 +449,11 @@ func (u *User) HasActiveKey() (ret bool) {
 	defer func() {
 		u.G().Log.Debug("- HasActiveKey -> %v", ret)
 	}()
+	if u.GetEldestKID().IsNil() {
+		u.G().Log.Debug("| no eldest KID; must have reset or be new")
+		ret = false
+		return
+	}
 	if ckf := u.GetComputedKeyFamily(); ckf != nil {
 		u.G().Log.Debug("| Checking user's ComputedKeyFamily")
 		ret = ckf.HasActiveKey()
libkb: temporary fix for login after sigchain reset

this isnt't the final solution but will work around any problems we have right now.