diff --git a/lib/seminar_open.php b/lib/seminar_open.php
index e982d161c1390b7b83d424edaef64febf07f4e54..cfed84762a3b6e02da71d71116b2eff9f8a38f5e 100644
--- a/lib/seminar_open.php
+++ b/lib/seminar_open.php
@@ -214,7 +214,8 @@ if (!Request::isXhr() && $perm->have_perm('root')) {
 }
 
 if (
-    Config::get()->MIGRATION_START_VERSION
+    $GLOBALS['perm']->have_perm('root')
+    && Config::get()->MIGRATION_START_VERSION
     && Config::get()->MIGRATION_START_VERSION < StudipVersion::getStudipVersion(true)
     && !Config::get()->UPDATE_NEWS_SEEN
 ) {