diff --git a/kitty/utmp.c b/kitty/utmp.c
index 47d06720b..f461edf69 100644
--- a/kitty/utmp.c
+++ b/kitty/utmp.c
@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 #include "data-types.h"
 #if __has_include(<utmpx.h>)
 #include <utmpx.h>
+#include <signal.h>
+
+static bool
+pid_exists(pid_t pid) {
+    if (pid < 1) return false;
+    if (kill(pid, 0) >= 0) return true;
+    return errno != ESRCH;
+}
 
 static PyObject*
 num_users(PyObject *const self UNUSED, PyObject *const args UNUSED) {
@@ -9,7 +17,7 @@ num_users(PyObject *const self UNUSED, PyObject *const args UNUSED) {
     Py_BEGIN_ALLOW_THREADS
     setutxent();
     while ((ut = getutxent())) {
-        if (ut->ut_type == USER_PROCESS) users++;
+        if (ut->ut_type == USER_PROCESS && ut->ut_user[0] && pid_exists(ut->ut_pid)) users++;
     }
     endutxent();
     Py_END_ALLOW_THREADS