diff --git a/packages/pds/src/api/com/atproto/server/createAccount.ts b/packages/pds/src/api/com/atproto/server/createAccount.ts
index 1b322f76304..3064e6dd541 100644
--- a/packages/pds/src/api/com/atproto/server/createAccount.ts
+++ b/packages/pds/src/api/com/atproto/server/createAccount.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export default function (server: Server, ctx: AppContext) {
       points: 100,
     },
     handler: async ({ input, req }) => {
-      const hasAvailability = ctx.signupLimiter.hasAvailability()
+      const hasAvailability = await ctx.signupLimiter.hasAvailability()
 
       const {
         did,
diff --git a/packages/pds/src/api/com/atproto/temp/checkSignupQueue.ts b/packages/pds/src/api/com/atproto/temp/checkSignupQueue.ts
index 2a94c4fa558..a71fe5d1dae 100644
--- a/packages/pds/src/api/com/atproto/temp/checkSignupQueue.ts
+++ b/packages/pds/src/api/com/atproto/temp/checkSignupQueue.ts
@@ -25,17 +25,15 @@ export default function (server: Server, ctx: AppContext) {
         placeInQueue = res?.count
       }
 
-      const limiterStatus = ctx.signupLimiter.status
+      const limiter = ctx.signupLimiter
       let estimatedTimeMs: number | undefined
-      if (
-        placeInQueue &&
-        !limiterStatus.disableSignups &&
-        limiterStatus.accountsInPeriod > 0
-      ) {
-        estimatedTimeMs = Math.ceil(
-          (placeInQueue * limiterStatus.periodMs) /
-            limiterStatus.accountsInPeriod,
-        )
+      if (placeInQueue && !limiter.flags.disableSignups) {
+        const accountsInPeriod = await limiter.accountsInPeriod()
+        if (accountsInPeriod > 0) {
+          estimatedTimeMs = Math.ceil(
+            (placeInQueue * limiter.flags.periodMs) / accountsInPeriod,
+          )
+        }
       }
 
       return {
diff --git a/packages/pds/src/signup-queue/limiter.ts b/packages/pds/src/signup-queue/limiter.ts
index 934d04a73da..d8a3945931e 100644
--- a/packages/pds/src/signup-queue/limiter.ts
+++ b/packages/pds/src/signup-queue/limiter.ts
@@ -1,19 +1,20 @@
 import { SECOND } from '@atproto/common'
 import { limiterLogger as log } from '../logger'
 import Database from '../db'
-import { LimiterStatus, getQueueStatus } from './util'
+import { LimiterFlags, getAccountsInPeriod, getQueueStatus } from './util'
 
 export class SignupLimiter {
   destroyed = false
   promise: Promise<void> = Promise.resolve()
   timer: NodeJS.Timer | undefined
-  status: LimiterStatus
+  flags: LimiterFlags
 
   constructor(private db: Database) {}
 
-  hasAvailability(): boolean {
-    if (this.status.disableSignups) return false
-    return this.status.accountsInPeriod < this.status.periodAllowance
+  async hasAvailability(): Promise<boolean> {
+    if (this.flags.disableSignups) return false
+    const accountsInPeriod = await this.accountsInPeriod()
+    return accountsInPeriod < this.flags.periodAllowance
   }
 
   async start() {
@@ -38,9 +39,13 @@ export class SignupLimiter {
     await this.promise
   }
 
+  async accountsInPeriod(): Promise<number> {
+    return getAccountsInPeriod(this.db, this.flags.periodMs)
+  }
+
   async refresh() {
-    this.status = await getQueueStatus(this.db)
+    this.flags = await getQueueStatus(this.db)
 
-    log.info({ ...this.status }, 'limiter refresh')
+    log.info({ ...this.flags }, 'limiter refresh')
   }
 }