diff --git a/jupyterhub/handlers/base.py b/jupyterhub/handlers/base.py
index 31864e22..2f98856e 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/handlers/base.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/handlers/base.py
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ class BaseHandler(RequestHandler):
 
         f = user.spawn(server_name, options)
         spawner = user.spawners[server_name]
-        user.proxy_pending = True
+        spawner._proxy_pending = True
 
         @gen.coroutine
         def finish_user_spawn(f=None):
@@ -352,9 +352,9 @@ class BaseHandler(RequestHandler):
                 self.log.error("Stopping user %s to avoid inconsistent state")
                 yield user.stop()
             else:
-                user.spawner.add_poll_callback(self.user_stopped, user)
+                spawner.add_poll_callback(self.user_stopped, user)
             finally:
-                user.proxy_pending = False
+                spawner._proxy_pending = False
 
         try:
             yield gen.with_timeout(timedelta(seconds=self.slow_spawn_timeout), f)
diff --git a/jupyterhub/spawner.py b/jupyterhub/spawner.py
index 80e5b3d2..0eb3acc0 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/spawner.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/spawner.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ class Spawner(LoggingConfigurable):
     # private attributes for tracking status
     _spawn_pending = False
     _stop_pending = False
+    _proxy_pending = False
     _waiting_for_response = False
 
     orm_spawner = Any()
diff --git a/jupyterhub/user.py b/jupyterhub/user.py
index f71b992c..37fc2470 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/user.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/user.py
@@ -117,10 +117,6 @@ class User(HasTraits):
             self._user_id = None
 
     spawners = None
-    spawn_pending = False
-    stop_pending = False
-    proxy_pending = False
-    waiting_for_response = False
 
     @property
     def authenticator(self):