diff --git a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/accounts/user/UserAccountsFirstTimeExternalPage.java b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/accounts/user/UserAccountsFirstTimeExternalPage.java
index fd556b155..78ea1c7ec 100644
--- a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/accounts/user/UserAccountsFirstTimeExternalPage.java
+++ b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/accounts/user/UserAccountsFirstTimeExternalPage.java
@@ -124,6 +124,11 @@ public class UserAccountsFirstTimeExternalPage extends UserAccountsPage {
 					+ "'";
 			return;
 		}
+		if (!Authenticator.getInstance(vreq).isUserPermittedToLogin(null)) {
+			bogusMessage = "User logins are temporarily disabled "
+					+ "while the system is being maintained.";
+			return;
+		}
 	}
 
 	public boolean isBogus() {
diff --git a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/accounts/user/UserAccountsUserController.java b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/accounts/user/UserAccountsUserController.java
index ac1a73519..e2f7a47e6 100644
--- a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/accounts/user/UserAccountsUserController.java
+++ b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/accounts/user/UserAccountsUserController.java
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.beans.DisplayMessage;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.beans.UserAccount;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.VitroRequest;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.authenticate.Authenticator;
+import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.authenticate.Authenticator.LoginNotPermitted;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.authenticate.LoginRedirector;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.freemarker.FreemarkerHttpServlet;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.freemarker.responsevalues.RedirectResponseValues;
@@ -108,10 +109,15 @@ public class UserAccountsUserController extends FreemarkerHttpServlet {
 		if (page.isBogus()) {
 			return showHomePage(vreq, page.getBogusMessage());
 		} else if (page.isSubmit() && page.isValid()) {
-			UserAccount userAccount = page.createAccount();
-			Authenticator auth = Authenticator.getInstance(vreq);
-			auth.recordLoginAgainstUserAccount(userAccount, EXTERNAL);
-			return showLoginRedirection(vreq, page.getAfterLoginUrl());
+			try {
+				UserAccount userAccount = page.createAccount();
+				Authenticator auth = Authenticator.getInstance(vreq);
+				auth.recordLoginAgainstUserAccount(userAccount, EXTERNAL);
+				return showLoginRedirection(vreq, page.getAfterLoginUrl());
+			} catch (LoginNotPermitted e) {
+				// This should have been anticipated by the page.
+				return showHomePage(vreq, BOGUS_STANDARD_MESSAGE);
+			}
 		} else {
 			return page.showPage();
 		}
diff --git a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/AdminLoginController.java b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/AdminLoginController.java
index 66dc2c3ae..9863a3436 100644
--- a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/AdminLoginController.java
+++ b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/AdminLoginController.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import org.apache.commons.logging.LogFactory;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.auth.requestedAction.Actions;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.beans.UserAccount;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.VitroRequest;
+import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.authenticate.Authenticator.LoginNotPermitted;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.freemarker.FreemarkerHttpServlet;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.freemarker.UrlBuilder;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.freemarker.responsevalues.RedirectResponseValues;
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ public class AdminLoginController extends FreemarkerHttpServlet {
 
 	private static final String MESSAGE_NO_EMAIL_ADDRESS = "errorNoEmail";
 	private static final String MESSAGE_NO_PASSWORD = "errorNoPassword";
+	private static final String MESSAGE_LOGIN_DISABLED = "errorLoginDisabled";
 	private static final String MESSAGE_LOGIN_FAILED = "errorLoginFailed";
 	private static final String MESSAGE_NEW_PASSWORD_REQUIRED = "newPasswordRequired";
 	private static final String MESSAGE_NEW_PASSWORD_WRONG_LENGTH = "errorNewPasswordWrongLength";
@@ -101,6 +103,9 @@ public class AdminLoginController extends FreemarkerHttpServlet {
 			if (password.isEmpty()) {
 				return showForm(MESSAGE_NO_PASSWORD);
 			}
+			if (!loginPermitted()) {
+				return showForm(MESSAGE_LOGIN_DISABLED);
+			}
 			if (newPasswordRequired()) {
 				if (newPassword.isEmpty()) {
 					return showForm(MESSAGE_NEW_PASSWORD_REQUIRED);
@@ -127,6 +132,10 @@ public class AdminLoginController extends FreemarkerHttpServlet {
 			return showForm(MESSAGE_LOGIN_FAILED);
 		}
 
+		private boolean loginPermitted() {
+			return auth.isUserPermittedToLogin(userAccount);
+		}
+
 		private boolean newPasswordRequired() {
 			return auth.isCurrentPassword(userAccount, password)
 					&& (userAccount.isPasswordChangeRequired());
@@ -138,17 +147,21 @@ public class AdminLoginController extends FreemarkerHttpServlet {
 		}
 
 		private boolean tryToLogin() {
-			if (auth.isCurrentPassword(userAccount, password)) {
-				auth.recordLoginAgainstUserAccount(userAccount, INTERNAL);
-
-				if (!newPassword.isEmpty()) {
-					auth.recordNewPassword(userAccount, newPassword);
-				}
-
-				return true;
-			} else {
+			if (!auth.isCurrentPassword(userAccount, password)) {
 				return false;
 			}
+
+			try {
+				auth.recordLoginAgainstUserAccount(userAccount, INTERNAL);
+			} catch (LoginNotPermitted e) {
+				return false;
+			}
+
+			if (!newPassword.isEmpty()) {
+				auth.recordNewPassword(userAccount, newPassword);
+			}
+
+			return true;
 		}
 
 		private ResponseValues showForm(String... codes) {
diff --git a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/Authenticator.java b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/Authenticator.java
index fb86eb1d1..6cb4b49cf 100644
--- a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/Authenticator.java
+++ b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/Authenticator.java
@@ -23,6 +23,14 @@ import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.beans.UserAccount;
  * This needs to be based on a HttpSession, because things like the UserDAO are
  * tied to the session. It seemed easier to base it on a HttpServletRequest,
  * which we can use to get the session.
+ * 
+ * TODO: Wouldn't it be cool if we could remove the LoginNotPermitted exception?
+ * Perhaps we could have a sub-object called an Authenticator.ForUser, and you
+ * call a getAuthenticatorForUser() method which returns null if your login has
+ * been disabled. Then, that object would provide these methods:
+ * accountRequiresEditing(), getAssociatedIndividualUris(), isCurrentPassword(),
+ * recordLoginAgainstUserAccount(), recordNewPassword(). If you didn't have such
+ * an object, you couldn't even call these methods.
  */
 public abstract class Authenticator {
 	// ----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -48,11 +56,11 @@ public abstract class Authenticator {
 	public static Authenticator getInstance(HttpServletRequest request) {
 		ServletContext ctx = request.getSession().getServletContext();
 		Object attribute = ctx.getAttribute(FACTORY_ATTRIBUTE_NAME);
-		if (! (attribute instanceof AuthenticatorFactory)) {
+		if (!(attribute instanceof AuthenticatorFactory)) {
 			attribute = new BasicAuthenticator.Factory();
 			ctx.setAttribute(FACTORY_ATTRIBUTE_NAME, attribute);
 		}
-		AuthenticatorFactory factory = (AuthenticatorFactory) attribute;	
+		AuthenticatorFactory factory = (AuthenticatorFactory) attribute;
 
 		return factory.getInstance(request);
 	}
@@ -77,6 +85,16 @@ public abstract class Authenticator {
 	 */
 	public abstract UserAccount getAccountForInternalAuth(String emailAddress);
 
+	/**
+	 * Is this user permitted to login? Some Authenticators might disable logins
+	 * for certain users.
+	 * 
+	 * Behavior when userAccount is null depends on the particular
+	 * Authenticator. An answer of "true" presumably means that the user will be
+	 * permitted to login and create an account on the fly.
+	 */
+	public abstract boolean isUserPermittedToLogin(UserAccount userAccount);
+
 	/**
 	 * Internal: does this UserAccount have this password? False if the
 	 * userAccount is null.
@@ -113,9 +131,14 @@ public abstract class Authenticator {
 	 * - record the user in the session map
 	 * - notify other users of the model
 	 * </pre>
+	 * 
+	 * @throws LoginNotPermitted
+	 *             if the Authenticator denies this user the ability to login.
+	 *             This should be thrown if and only if isUserPermittedToLogin()
+	 *             returns false.
 	 */
 	public abstract void recordLoginAgainstUserAccount(UserAccount userAccount,
-			AuthenticationSource authSource);
+			AuthenticationSource authSource) throws LoginNotPermitted;
 
 	/**
 	 * <pre>
@@ -173,4 +196,12 @@ public abstract class Authenticator {
 			return false;
 		}
 	}
+
+	// ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+	// Exceptions
+	// ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+	public static class LoginNotPermitted extends Exception {
+		// no other information
+	}
 }
diff --git a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/BaseLoginServlet.java b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/BaseLoginServlet.java
index 22698eda5..20bcd402e 100644
--- a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/BaseLoginServlet.java
+++ b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/BaseLoginServlet.java
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ public class BaseLoginServlet extends HttpServlet {
 	protected static final Message MESSAGE_LOGIN_FAILED = new LoginProcessBean.Message(
 			"External login failed.", LoginProcessBean.MLevel.ERROR);
 
+	/** Tell the user that it's nothing personal, they just aren't allowed in. */
+	protected static final Message MESSAGE_LOGIN_DISABLED = new LoginProcessBean.Message(
+			"User logins are temporarily disabled while the system is being maintained.",
+			LoginProcessBean.MLevel.ERROR);
+
 	protected Authenticator getAuthenticator(HttpServletRequest req) {
 		return Authenticator.getInstance(req);
 	}
diff --git a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/BasicAuthenticator.java b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/BasicAuthenticator.java
index 347d6dc86..918630107 100644
--- a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/BasicAuthenticator.java
+++ b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/BasicAuthenticator.java
@@ -76,6 +76,13 @@ public class BasicAuthenticator extends Authenticator {
 		return userAccountsDao.getUserAccountByExternalAuthId(externalAuthId);
 	}
 
+	@Override
+	public boolean isUserPermittedToLogin(UserAccount userAccount) {
+		// All users are permitted to login. If the user doesn't have an account
+		// yet (userAccount is null), an account should be created for them.
+		return true;
+	}
+
 	@Override
 	public boolean isCurrentPassword(UserAccount userAccount,
 			String clearTextPassword) {
diff --git a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/LoginExternalAuthReturn.java b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/LoginExternalAuthReturn.java
index e8dfd4cea..216bb12cd 100644
--- a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/LoginExternalAuthReturn.java
+++ b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/LoginExternalAuthReturn.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import org.apache.commons.logging.LogFactory;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vedit.beans.LoginStatusBean.AuthenticationSource;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.beans.UserAccount;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.accounts.user.UserAccountsFirstTimeExternalPage;
+import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.authenticate.Authenticator.LoginNotPermitted;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.freemarker.UrlBuilder;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.login.LoginProcessBean;
 
@@ -77,6 +78,14 @@ public class LoginExternalAuthReturn extends BaseLoginServlet {
 
 		UserAccount userAccount = getAuthenticator(req)
 				.getAccountForExternalAuth(externalAuthId);
+
+		if (!getAuthenticator(req).isUserPermittedToLogin(userAccount)) {
+			log.debug("Logins disabled for " + userAccount);
+			complainAndReturnToReferrer(req, resp, ATTRIBUTE_REFERRER,
+					MESSAGE_LOGIN_DISABLED);
+			return;
+		}
+
 		if (userAccount == null) {
 			log.debug("Creating new account for " + externalAuthId
 					+ ", return to '" + afterLoginUrl + "'");
@@ -84,12 +93,20 @@ public class LoginExternalAuthReturn extends BaseLoginServlet {
 					externalAuthId, afterLoginUrl);
 			resp.sendRedirect(UrlBuilder.getUrl("/accounts/firstTimeExternal"));
 			return;
-		} else {
+		}
+
+		try {
 			log.debug("Logging in as " + userAccount.getUri());
 			getAuthenticator(req).recordLoginAgainstUserAccount(userAccount,
 					AuthenticationSource.EXTERNAL);
 			new LoginRedirector(req, afterLoginUrl).redirectLoggedInUser(resp);
 			return;
+		} catch (LoginNotPermitted e) {
+			// should have been caught by isUserPermittedToLogin()
+			log.debug("Logins disabled for " + userAccount);
+			complainAndReturnToReferrer(req, resp, ATTRIBUTE_REFERRER,
+					MESSAGE_LOGIN_DISABLED);
+			return;
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/ProgramLogin.java b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/ProgramLogin.java
index bdaef9162..ab3c05577 100644
--- a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/ProgramLogin.java
+++ b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/ProgramLogin.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import org.apache.commons.logging.Log;
 import org.apache.commons.logging.LogFactory;
 
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.beans.UserAccount;
+import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.authenticate.Authenticator.LoginNotPermitted;
 
 /**
  * Provide a means for programmatic login If they provide the right parameters,
@@ -29,13 +30,18 @@ public class ProgramLogin extends HttpServlet {
 	@Override
 	protected void doGet(HttpServletRequest req, HttpServletResponse resp)
 			throws ServletException, IOException {
-		new ProgramLoginCore(req, resp).process();
+		try {
+			new ProgramLoginCore(req, resp).process();
+		} catch (LoginNotPermitted e) {
+			// This should have been prevented by the test for loginDisabled()
+			throw new ServletException(e);
+		}
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	protected void doPost(HttpServletRequest req, HttpServletResponse resp)
 			throws ServletException, IOException {
-		new ProgramLoginCore(req, resp).process();
+		doGet(req, resp);
 	}
 
 	static class ProgramLoginCore {
@@ -50,6 +56,8 @@ public class ProgramLogin extends HttpServlet {
 				+ " parameter is required.";
 		private static final String MESSAGE_WRONG_USER_OR_PASSWORD = PARAM_EMAIL_ADDRESS
 				+ " or " + PARAM_PASSWORD + " is incorrect.";
+		private static final String MESSAGE_LOGIN_DISABLED = "User logins are "
+				+ "temporarily disabled while the system is being maintained.";
 		private static final String MESSAGE_NEED_NEW_PASSWORD = "first-time login: "
 				+ PARAM_NEW_PASSWORD + " parameter is required.";
 		private static final String MESSAGE_NEW_PASSWORD_NOT_NEEDED = "not first-time login: "
@@ -90,7 +98,7 @@ public class ProgramLogin extends HttpServlet {
 					.getAccountForInternalAuth(this.emailAddress);
 		}
 
-		void process() throws IOException {
+		void process() throws IOException, LoginNotPermitted {
 			if (emailAddress.isEmpty()) {
 				sendError(MESSAGE_NEED_EMAIL_ADDRESS);
 				return;
@@ -104,6 +112,11 @@ public class ProgramLogin extends HttpServlet {
 				return;
 			}
 
+			if (loginDisabled()) {
+				sendError(MESSAGE_LOGIN_DISABLED);
+				return;
+			}
+
 			if (!isPasswordChangeRequired()) {
 				if (!newPassword.isEmpty()) {
 					sendError(MESSAGE_NEW_PASSWORD_NOT_NEEDED);
@@ -147,6 +160,10 @@ public class ProgramLogin extends HttpServlet {
 			return auth.isCurrentPassword(userAccount, password);
 		}
 
+		private boolean loginDisabled() {
+			return !auth.isUserPermittedToLogin(userAccount);
+		}
+
 		private boolean newPasswordIsValidPasswordLength() {
 			return (newPassword.length() >= MIN_PASSWORD_LENGTH)
 					&& (newPassword.length() <= MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH);
@@ -160,11 +177,11 @@ public class ProgramLogin extends HttpServlet {
 			return (userAccount.isPasswordChangeRequired());
 		}
 
-		private void recordLogin() {
+		private void recordLogin() throws LoginNotPermitted {
 			auth.recordLoginAgainstUserAccount(userAccount, INTERNAL);
 		}
 
-		private void recordLoginWithPasswordChange() {
+		private void recordLoginWithPasswordChange() throws LoginNotPermitted {
 			auth.recordNewPassword(userAccount, newPassword);
 			auth.recordLoginAgainstUserAccount(userAccount, INTERNAL);
 		}
diff --git a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/edit/Authenticate.java b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/edit/Authenticate.java
index 1949009e6..df1e5bbca 100644
--- a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/edit/Authenticate.java
+++ b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/edit/Authenticate.java
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.Controllers;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.VitroHttpServlet;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.VitroRequest;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.authenticate.Authenticator;
+import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.authenticate.Authenticator.LoginNotPermitted;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.authenticate.LoginInProcessFlag;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.authenticate.LoginRedirector;
 import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.controller.login.LoginProcessBean;
@@ -327,6 +328,11 @@ public class Authenticate extends VitroHttpServlet {
 			return;
 		}
 
+		if (!getAuthenticator(request).isUserPermittedToLogin(user)) {
+			bean.setMessage(Message.LOGIN_DISABLED);
+			return;
+		}
+
 		if (!getAuthenticator(request).isCurrentPassword(user, password)) {
 			bean.setMessage(Message.INCORRECT_PASSWORD);
 			return;
@@ -336,7 +342,13 @@ public class Authenticate extends VitroHttpServlet {
 		if (user.isPasswordChangeRequired()) {
 			transitionToForcedPasswordChange(request);
 		} else {
-			transitionToLoggedIn(request, user);
+			try {
+				transitionToLoggedIn(request, user);
+			} catch (LoginNotPermitted e) {
+				// This should have been caught by isUserPermittedToLogin()
+				bean.setMessage(Message.LOGIN_DISABLED);
+				return;
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -392,7 +404,13 @@ public class Authenticate extends VitroHttpServlet {
 		}
 
 		// New password is acceptable. Store it and go on.
-		transitionToLoggedIn(request, user, newPassword);
+		try {
+			transitionToLoggedIn(request, user, newPassword);
+		} catch (LoginNotPermitted e) {
+			// This should have been caught by isUserPermittedToLogin()
+			bean.setMessage(Message.LOGIN_DISABLED);
+			return;
+		}
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -424,7 +442,7 @@ public class Authenticate extends VitroHttpServlet {
 	 * State change: all requirements are satisfied. Log them in.
 	 */
 	private void transitionToLoggedIn(HttpServletRequest request,
-			UserAccount user) {
+			UserAccount user) throws LoginNotPermitted {
 		log.debug("Completed login: " + user.getEmailAddress());
 		getAuthenticator(request).recordLoginAgainstUserAccount(user,
 				AuthenticationSource.INTERNAL);
@@ -435,7 +453,7 @@ public class Authenticate extends VitroHttpServlet {
 	 * log them in.
 	 */
 	private void transitionToLoggedIn(HttpServletRequest request,
-			UserAccount user, String newPassword) {
+			UserAccount user, String newPassword) throws LoginNotPermitted {
 		log.debug("Completed login: " + user.getEmailAddress()
 				+ ", password changed.");
 		getAuthenticator(request).recordNewPassword(user, newPassword);
@@ -477,9 +495,10 @@ public class Authenticate extends VitroHttpServlet {
 		response.sendRedirect(loginProcessPage);
 		return;
 	}
-	
+
 	/**
-	 * Exit: user has completed the login. Redirect appropriately and clear the bean.
+	 * Exit: user has completed the login. Redirect appropriately and clear the
+	 * bean.
 	 */
 	private void showLoginComplete(HttpServletResponse response,
 			VitroRequest vreq) throws IOException {
@@ -497,12 +516,11 @@ public class Authenticate extends VitroHttpServlet {
 	}
 
 	private LoginRedirector getLoginRedirector(VitroRequest vreq) {
-		String afterLoginUrl = LoginProcessBean.getBean(vreq).getAfterLoginUrl();
+		String afterLoginUrl = LoginProcessBean.getBean(vreq)
+				.getAfterLoginUrl();
 		return new LoginRedirector(vreq, afterLoginUrl);
 	}
 
-
-
 	/** Get a reference to the Authenticator. */
 	private Authenticator getAuthenticator(HttpServletRequest request) {
 		return Authenticator.getInstance(request);
diff --git a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/login/LoginProcessBean.java b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/login/LoginProcessBean.java
index 80b28c2d8..5c4c5017c 100644
--- a/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/login/LoginProcessBean.java
+++ b/webapp/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/login/LoginProcessBean.java
@@ -125,6 +125,10 @@ public class LoginProcessBean {
 		public static final Message UNKNOWN_USERNAME = new Message(
 				"The email or password you entered is incorrect.", MLevel.ERROR);
 
+		public static final Message LOGIN_DISABLED = new Message(
+				"User logins are temporarily disabled while the system is being maintained.",
+				MLevel.ERROR);
+
 		public static final Message INCORRECT_PASSWORD = new Message(
 				"The email or password you entered is incorrect.", MLevel.ERROR);
 
diff --git a/webapp/test/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/AuthenticatorStub.java b/webapp/test/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/AuthenticatorStub.java
index f97d55032..84fba7c0d 100644
--- a/webapp/test/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/AuthenticatorStub.java
+++ b/webapp/test/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/webapp/controller/authenticate/AuthenticatorStub.java
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.webapp.beans.UserAccount;
 public class AuthenticatorStub extends Authenticator {
 	public static final String FACTORY_ATTRIBUTE_NAME = AuthenticatorFactory.class
 			.getName();
-	
+
 	// ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 	// factory - store this in the context.
 	//
@@ -97,6 +97,11 @@ public class AuthenticatorStub extends Authenticator {
 		return usersByExternalAuthId.get(externalAuthId);
 	}
 
+	@Override
+	public boolean isUserPermittedToLogin(UserAccount userAccount) {
+		return true;
+	}
+
 	@Override
 	public boolean isCurrentPassword(UserAccount userAccount,
 			String clearTextPassword) {
diff --git a/webapp/web/templates/freemarker/body/login/adminLogin.ftl b/webapp/web/templates/freemarker/body/login/adminLogin.ftl
index 6bf7228f2..d8d856dea 100644
--- a/webapp/web/templates/freemarker/body/login/adminLogin.ftl
+++ b/webapp/web/templates/freemarker/body/login/adminLogin.ftl
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@
         <#assign errorMessage = "No password supplied." />
     </#if>
     
+    <#if errorLoginDisabled??>
+        <#assign errorMessage = "User logins are temporarily disabled while the system is being maintained." />
+    </#if>
+    
     <#if errorLoginFailed??>
         <#assign errorMessage = "Email or Password was incorrect." />
     </#if>