diff --git a/account/views.py b/account/views.py
index 4dbc420..5864fbb 100644
--- a/account/views.py
+++ b/account/views.py
@@ -40,12 +40,13 @@ def landingpage(request):
         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
 
+    # output as text if requested
+    if request.GET.get('raw', ''):
+        return HttpResponse(check_nickname)
+
     return render(request, 'base.html', locals())
 
 def auth_login(request):