diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index 39fdb165a..8a69fda00 100644
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ class User < Principal
 
   # Return user's API key (a 40 chars long string), used to access the API
   def api_key
-    token = self.api_token || Token.create(:user => self, :action => 'api')
+    token = self.api_token || self.create_api_token(:action => 'api')
     token.value
   end