diff --git a/jupyter_server/base/handlers.py b/jupyter_server/base/handlers.py
index c28807b8e2..1f5c4f5294 100644
--- a/jupyter_server/base/handlers.py
+++ b/jupyter_server/base/handlers.py
@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ def update_api_activity(self):
         # record activity of authenticated requests
         if (
             self._track_activity
-            and getattr(self, "_user_cache", None)
+            and getattr(self, "_jupyter_current_user", None)
             and self.get_argument("no_track_activity", None) is None
         ):
             self.settings["api_last_activity"] = utcnow()