diff --git a/ccnode/node.py b/ccnode/node.py
index fdb81a9633d83e3b057e5e65da5cf7b7b71f203f..25a0454006c36a4ba99780196cf79e555c11a3ad 100644
--- a/ccnode/node.py
+++ b/ccnode/node.py
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ class MainLoop(object):
 
     @property
     def rpc_authenticated(self):
-        return self.rpc_connected and self.connect is None
+        return self.rpc_connected and self.role is not None
 
     # RPC handlers definitions
     @threadless