diff --git a/res/ari/config.c b/res/ari/config.c
index e25fa8ad1f..59c4d7d949 100644
--- a/res/ari/config.c
+++ b/res/ari/config.c
@@ -290,12 +290,14 @@ static int process_config(int reload)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	if (ao2_container_count(conf->users) == 0) {
-		ast_log(LOG_ERROR, "No configured users for ARI\n");
+	if (conf->general->enabled) {
+		if (ao2_container_count(conf->users) == 0) {
+			ast_log(LOG_ERROR, "No configured users for ARI\n");
+		} else {
+			ao2_callback(conf->users, OBJ_NODATA, validate_user_cb, NULL);
+		}
 	}
 
-	ao2_callback(conf->users, OBJ_NODATA, validate_user_cb, NULL);
-
 	return 0;
 }