diff --git a/lib/auth/init.go b/lib/auth/init.go
index 6b8f6fbbfe499..2c7c32f5e46b3 100644
--- a/lib/auth/init.go
+++ b/lib/auth/init.go
@@ -1223,13 +1223,13 @@ func createPresetUsers(ctx context.Context, um PresetUsers) error {
 
 		if types.IsSystemResource(user) {
 			// System resources *always* get reset on every auth startup
-			if user, err := um.UpsertUser(ctx, user); err != nil {
+			if _, err := um.UpsertUser(ctx, user); err != nil {
 				return trace.Wrap(err, "failed upserting system user %s", user.GetName())
 			}
 			continue
 		}
 
-		if user, err := um.CreateUser(ctx, user); err != nil && !trace.IsAlreadyExists(err) {
+		if _, err := um.CreateUser(ctx, user); err != nil && !trace.IsAlreadyExists(err) {
 			return trace.Wrap(err, "failed creating preset user %s", user.GetName())
 		}
 	}