diff --git a/ircd/s_conf.c b/ircd/s_conf.c
index be7f7b2f..e0fa6802 100644
--- a/ircd/s_conf.c
+++ b/ircd/s_conf.c
@@ -1135,8 +1135,10 @@ deactivate_conf(struct ConfItem *aconf, rb_dlink_node *ptr, time_t now)
 			del_from_resv_hash(aconf->host, aconf);
 			break;
 	}
-	if (aconf->lifetime != 0 && now < aconf->lifetime)
+	if (aconf->clients > 0 || (aconf->lifetime != 0 && now < aconf->lifetime))
+	{
 		aconf->status |= CONF_ILLEGAL;
+	}
 	else
 	{
 		if (aconf->lifetime != 0)