diff --git a/module/user/model.php b/module/user/model.php
index 59e5c5c79b..aec68513da 100644
--- a/module/user/model.php
+++ b/module/user/model.php
@@ -952,7 +952,7 @@ class userModel extends model
      */
     public function authorize($account)
     {
-        $account = filter_var($account, FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING);
+        $account = filter_var($account, FILTER_UNSAFE_RAW);
         if(!$account) return false;
 
         $rights = array();