diff --git a/account/models.py b/account/models.py
index a6b396c..f1844fb 100644
--- a/account/models.py
+++ b/account/models.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class UserProfile(models.Model):
     is_ldap_admin = models.BooleanField(default=False, editable=False)
     is_circle_member = models.BooleanField(default=False, editable=False)
     is_clab_member = models.BooleanField(default=False, editable=False)
+    is_ceymaster = models.BooleanField(default=False, editable=False)
 
     def __unicode__(self):
         return 'Profile: %s' % self.user.username
diff --git a/account/templates/base.html b/account/templates/base.html
index 0445736..158baa7 100644
--- a/account/templates/base.html
+++ b/account/templates/base.html
@@ -71,20 +71,18 @@
             </span>
             <div class="nav-collapse collapse">
                 <ul class="nav nav-collapse collapse pull-right">
-                        {% if request.user.is_authenticated %}
-                            <li><a href="/account/logout/">Logout</a></li>
-                        {% else %}
-                            <li><a href="/account/login/">Login</a></li>
-                        {% endif %}
-                    </ul>
+                    {% if request.user.is_authenticated %}
+                        <li><a href="/account/logout/">Logout</a></li>
+                    {% else %}
+                        <li><a href="/account/login/">Login</a></li>
+                    {% endif %}
+                </ul>
                 {% if request.user.is_authenticated %}
-                    <p class="navbar-text pull-right">
-                        <i class="icon icon-user icon-white"></i>
-                        {{ user.username }}
-                    </p>
+                <p class="navbar-text pull-right">
+                    <i class="icon icon-user icon-white"></i>
+                    {{ user.username }}
+                </p>
                 {% endif %}
-
-                </div>
             </div>
             <!--/.nav-collapse -->
         </div>
@@ -120,16 +118,36 @@
             <div class="span4">
                 <div class="well">
                 <h4>Login</h4>
-                <form class="form" action="/account/login/?next={% url account.views.home %}"
-                      method="post">
-                    {% csrf_token %}
-                    {{ form|crispy }}
-                    <div class="control-group">
-                        <div class="controls">
-                            <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">{% trans "Sign in" %}</button>
+                    <form class="form" action="/account/login/?next={% url account.views.home %}"
+                          method="post">
+                        {% csrf_token %}
+                        {{ login_form|crispy }}
+                        <div class="control-group">
+                            <div class="controls">
+                                <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">{% trans "Sign in" %}</button>
+                            </div>
                         </div>
-                    </div>
-                </form>
+                    </form>
+                    <hr />
+                    <form class="form" action="/" method="get">
+                        <input type="text" id="check_nickname" name="check_nickname">
+                        <div class="control-group">
+                            <div class="controls">
+                                <button type="submit" class="btn">{% trans "Check nick" %}</button>
+                            </div>
+                        </div>
+                    </form>
+                    {% if not check_nickname == "" %}
+                        {% if check_nickname %}
+                            <div class="alert alert-danger alert-block">
+                                {% blocktrans %}This nick is already taken.{% endblocktrans %}
+                            </div>
+                        {% else %}
+                            <div class="alert alert-success alert-block">
+                                {% blocktrans %}This nick is still available.{% endblocktrans %}
+                            </div>
+                        {% endif %}
+                    {% endif %}
                 </div><!-- /.well -->
             </div>
         </div>
diff --git a/account/views.py b/account/views.py
index 86030b7..4dbc420 100644
--- a/account/views.py
+++ b/account/views.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import hashlib
 import smbpasswd
 
 from django.conf import settings
-from django.http import HttpResponseRedirect
+from django.http import HttpResponse, HttpResponseRedirect
 from django.shortcuts import render_to_response
 from django.template.context import RequestContext
 from django.contrib.auth import login, logout, authenticate
@@ -25,19 +25,28 @@ from password_encryption import *
 def landingpage(request):
     if request.user.is_authenticated():
         return HttpResponseRedirect('/account')
-    form = LoginForm()
-    is_ceymaster = is_admin = False
-    if 'ceymaster' in [g.name for g in request.user.groups.all()]:
-        is_ceymaster = True
-    if 'ldap_admins' in [g.name for g in request.user.groups.all()]:
-        is_admin = True
-    groups = Group.objects.all()
+    login_form = LoginForm()
     try:
+        # just in case the group hasn't yet been synced
         admins = Group.objects.get(name="ldap_admins").user_set.all()
     except:
+        # else provide an emtpy list
         admins = []
 
-    return render(request, 'base.html', {'form': form, 'admins': admins})
+    # https://github.com/c-base/cbmi/issues/20
+    # check if nick is still available feature
+    check_nickname = request.GET.get('check_nickname', '')
+    if check_nickname:
+        try:
+            user = User.objects.get(username=check_nickname)
+            check_nickname = True
+            # output as text if requested
+            if request.GET.get('raw', ''):
+                return HttpResponse(check_nickname)
+        except:
+            check_nickname = False
+
+    return render(request, 'base.html', locals())
 
 def auth_login(request):
     redirect_to = request.GET.get('next', '') or '/'
diff --git a/cbmi/settings.py b/cbmi/settings.py
index 0afab4f..c74ecf9 100644
--- a/cbmi/settings.py
+++ b/cbmi/settings.py
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ AUTH_LDAP_PROFILE_FLAGS_BY_GROUP = {
     "is_ldap_admin": "cn=ldap_admins,ou=groups,dc=c-base,dc=org",
     "is_circle_member": "cn=circle,ou=groups,dc=c-base,dc=org",
     "is_clab_member": "cn=cey-c-lab,ou=groups,dc=c-base,dc=org",
+    "is_ceymaster": "cn=ceymaster,ou=groups,dc=c-base,dc=org",
 }
 
 AUTH_LDAP_USER_ATTR_MAP = {