diff --git a/jupyterhub/auth.py b/jupyterhub/auth.py
index 03cbc515..d873b1fb 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/auth.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/auth.py
@@ -550,6 +550,19 @@ class PAMAuthenticator(LocalAuthenticator):
         """
     ).tag(config=True)
 
+    check_account = Bool(True,
+        help="""
+        Whether to check the user's account status via PAM during authentication.
+
+        The PAM account stack performs non-authentication based account 
+        management. It is typically used to restrict/permit access to a 
+        service and this step is needed to access the host's user access control.
+
+        Disabling this can be dangerous as authenticated but unauthorized users may
+        be granted access and, therefore, arbitrary execution on the system.
+        """
+     ).tag(config=True)
+
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
         if pamela is None:
             raise _pamela_error from None
@@ -563,14 +576,24 @@ class PAMAuthenticator(LocalAuthenticator):
         """
         username = data['username']
         try:
-            pamela.authenticate(username, data['password'], service=self.service)
+            pamela.authenticate(username, data['password'], service=self.service, encoding=self.encoding)
         except pamela.PAMError as e:
             if handler is not None:
                 self.log.warning("PAM Authentication failed (%s@%s): %s", username, handler.request.remote_ip, e)
             else:
                 self.log.warning("PAM Authentication failed: %s", e)
         else:
-            return username
+            if not self.check_account:
+                return username
+            try:
+                pamela.check_account(username, service=self.service, encoding=self.encoding)
+            except pamela.PAMError as e:
+                if handler is not None:
+                    self.log.warning("PAM Account Check failed (%s@%s): %s", username, handler.request.remote_ip, e)
+                else:
+                    self.log.warning("PAM Account Check failed: %s", e)
+            else:
+                return username
 
     @run_on_executor
     def pre_spawn_start(self, user, spawner):
@@ -578,7 +601,7 @@ class PAMAuthenticator(LocalAuthenticator):
         if not self.open_sessions:
             return
         try:
-            pamela.open_session(user.name, service=self.service)
+            pamela.open_session(user.name, service=self.service, encoding=self.encoding)
         except pamela.PAMError as e:
             self.log.warning("Failed to open PAM session for %s: %s", user.name, e)
             self.log.warning("Disabling PAM sessions from now on.")
@@ -590,7 +613,7 @@ class PAMAuthenticator(LocalAuthenticator):
         if not self.open_sessions:
             return
         try:
-            pamela.close_session(user.name, service=self.service)
+            pamela.close_session(user.name, service=self.service, encoding=self.encoding)
         except pamela.PAMError as e:
             self.log.warning("Failed to close PAM session for %s: %s", user.name, e)
             self.log.warning("Disabling PAM sessions from now on.")
diff --git a/jupyterhub/tests/mocking.py b/jupyterhub/tests/mocking.py
index bce3deec..cf49e849 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/tests/mocking.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/tests/mocking.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ from .utils import async_requests
 
 from pamela import PAMError
 
-def mock_authenticate(username, password, service='login'):
+def mock_authenticate(username, password, service, encoding):
     # just use equality for testing
     if password == username:
         return True
@@ -34,7 +34,14 @@ def mock_authenticate(username, password, service='login'):
         raise PAMError("Fake")
 
 
-def mock_open_session(username, service):
+def mock_check_account(username, service, encoding):
+    if username.startswith('notallowed'):
+        raise PAMError("Fake")
+    else:
+        return True
+
+
+def mock_open_session(username, service, encoding):
     pass
 
 
@@ -156,6 +163,7 @@ class MockPAMAuthenticator(PAMAuthenticator):
                 authenticate=mock_authenticate,
                 open_session=mock_open_session,
                 close_session=mock_open_session,
+                check_account=mock_check_account,
                 ):
             username = yield super(MockPAMAuthenticator, self).authenticate(*args, **kwargs)
         if username is None:
diff --git a/jupyterhub/tests/test_auth.py b/jupyterhub/tests/test_auth.py
index 161ea16f..33aa826e 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/tests/test_auth.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/tests/test_auth.py
@@ -29,6 +29,29 @@ def test_pam_auth():
     })
     assert authorized is None
 
+    # Account check is on by default for increased security
+    authorized = yield authenticator.get_authenticated_user(None, {
+        'username': 'notallowedmatch',
+        'password': 'notallowedmatch',
+    })
+    assert authorized is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.gen_test
+def test_pam_auth_account_check_disabled():
+    authenticator = MockPAMAuthenticator(check_account=False)
+    authorized = yield authenticator.get_authenticated_user(None, {
+        'username': 'allowedmatch',
+        'password': 'allowedmatch',
+    })
+    assert authorized['name'] == 'allowedmatch'
+
+    authorized = yield authenticator.get_authenticated_user(None, {
+        'username': 'notallowedmatch',
+        'password': 'notallowedmatch',
+    })
+    assert authorized['name'] == 'notallowedmatch'
+
 
 @pytest.mark.gen_test
 def test_pam_auth_whitelist():