diff --git a/scripts/install b/scripts/install
index 7e67db7..89069fb 100644
--- a/scripts/install
+++ b/scripts/install
@@ -28,7 +28,15 @@ if [[ ! $? -eq 0 ]]; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
+# check that admin user is an existing account
+sudo yunohost user list --json | grep -q "\"username\": \"$admin\""
+if [[ ! $? -eq 0 ]]; then
+    echo "Error : the chosen admin user does not exist"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 # save app settings
+sudo yunohost app setting $app admin_user -v "$admin"
 sudo yunohost app setting $app is_public -v "$is_public"
 sudo yunohost app setting $app domain -v "$domain"
 sudo yunohost app setting $app path -v "$path"