diff --git a/src/stratifier.c b/src/stratifier.c
index e430fe6b..4cdb238c 100644
--- a/src/stratifier.c
+++ b/src/stratifier.c
@@ -5266,14 +5266,8 @@ static void parse_method(ckpool_t *ckp, sdata_t *sdata, stratum_instance_t *clie
 		return;
 	}
 
-	/* We should only accept subscribed requests from here on */
-	if (!client->subscribed) {
-		LOGINFO("Dropping unsubscribed client %"PRId64" %s requesting method %s",
-			client_id, client->address, method);
-		connector_drop_client(ckp, client_id);
-		return;
-	}
-
+	/* We shouldn't really allow unsubscribed users to authorise first but
+	 * some broken stratum implementations do that and we can handle it. */
 	if (cmdmatch(method, "mining.auth")) {
 		json_params_t *jp;
 
@@ -5287,6 +5281,15 @@ static void parse_method(ckpool_t *ckp, sdata_t *sdata, stratum_instance_t *clie
 		return;
 	}
 
+	/* We should only accept requests from subscribed and authed users here
+	 * on */
+	if (!client->subscribed) {
+		LOGINFO("Dropping %s from unsubscribed client %"PRId64" %s", method,
+			client_id, client->address);
+		connector_drop_client(ckp, client_id);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	/* We should only accept authorised requests from here on */
 	if (!client->authorised) {
 		LOGINFO("Dropping %s from unauthorised client %"PRId64" %s", method,