diff --git a/setup/so-functions b/setup/so-functions
index 33e0514fc..426406c78 100755
--- a/setup/so-functions
+++ b/setup/so-functions
@@ -120,7 +120,9 @@ add_web_user() {
 	wait_for_file /opt/so/conf/kratos/db/db.sqlite 30 5
 	{
 		echo "Attempting to add administrator user for web interface...";
+		export SKIP_STATE_APPLY=true
 		echo "$WEBPASSWD1" | /usr/sbin/so-user add "$WEBUSER";
+		unset SKIP_STATE_APPLY
 		echo "Add user result: $?";
 	} >> "/root/so-user-add.log" 2>&1
 }