diff --git a/internal.lua b/internal.lua
index 05a31cd..bf7e92c 100644
--- a/internal.lua
+++ b/internal.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 
 function areas:player_exists(name)
-	return minetest.auth_table[name] ~= nil
+	return minetest.get_auth_handler().get_auth(name) ~= nil
 end
 
 -- Save the areas table to a file