diff --git a/create-znc_account.sh b/create-znc_account.sh
index ee2fb35..e1e93a7 100644
--- a/create-znc_account.sh
+++ b/create-znc_account.sh
@@ -7,9 +7,17 @@ PID=$(pgrep -u znc znc)
 # $username and $password are retrieved from create-account script
 if [[ -z $1 || -z $2 ]]
 then    
-        echo -e "Usage: $(basename $0) [username] [password] "
+        echo -e "Usage: $(basename $0) [username] [password]"
         exit
-if
+fi
+
+# search if $username has been added previously
+if grep -iq $1 $CONF
+then    
+        echo -e "User: '$1' already exists"
+        exit
+fi
+
 username=$1
 password=$2
 
@@ -29,5 +37,7 @@ EOF
 echo "  </Pass>" >> $CONF
 echo "</User>" >> $CONF
 
+sleep 1
 kill -s HUP $PID # Reload znc.conf
+sleep 1
 kill -s USR1 $PID # Rewrite znc.conf