diff --git a/sidecar/tea-config.ts b/sidecar/tea-config.ts
index 3b17bbe..2f5771b 100644
--- a/sidecar/tea-config.ts
+++ b/sidecar/tea-config.ts
@@ -176,7 +176,9 @@ export async function testTeaLogin(userId: number): Promise<{ ok: boolean; user?
   // around it changes.
   const line = out
     .split('\n')
-    .map((l) => l.replace(/^#\s*/, '').trim())
+    // Trim FIRST: tea indents the line, so stripping the `#` before trimming left it in place and the
+    // page read "Authenticated as # pastilhas (admin)".
+    .map((l) => l.trim().replace(/^#\s*/, ''))
     .find(Boolean);
   return line ? { ok: true, user: line } : { ok: false, error: 'tea answered, but named no account' };
 }