diff --git a/bitelab/__init__.py b/bitelab/__init__.py
index 8efb6ef..d4d9228 100644
--- a/bitelab/__init__.py
+++ b/bitelab/__init__.py
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ def get_authorized_board_parms(board_id, token: str = Depends(oauth2_scheme),
 	return dict(board_id=board_id, token=token, data=data, brdmgr=brdmgr)
 
 @contextlib.asynccontextmanager
-async def validate_board_params(board_id, token, data, brdmgr):
+async def validate_board_params(board_id, data, brdmgr, user=None, token=None):
 	'''This context manager checks to see if the request is authorized
 	for the board_id.  This requires that the board is reserved by
 	the user, or the connection came from the board's jail (TBI).
@@ -329,7 +329,8 @@ async def validate_board_params(board_id, token, data, brdmgr):
 	brd = brdmgr.boards[board_id]
 
 	async with brd.lock:
-		user = await lookup_user(token, data)
+		if user is None:
+			user = await lookup_user(token, data)
 
 		try:
 			brduser = await data.BoardStatus.objects.get(board=board_id)
@@ -448,11 +449,12 @@ async def reserve_board(board_id_or_class,
 	return brd
 
 class HandleExec(WSFWDServer):
-	def __init__(self, *args, board_id, data, **kwargs):
+	def __init__(self, *args, board_id, data, brdmgr, **kwargs):
 		super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
 
 		self._board_id = board_id
 		self._data = data
+		self._brdmgr = brdmgr
 		self._auth_user = None
 		self._did_exec = False
 
@@ -514,9 +516,16 @@ class HandleExec(WSFWDServer):
 		if self._auth_user is None:
 			raise RuntimeError('not authenticated')
 
-		self._proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(
-		    'jexec', self._board_id, *msg['args'],
-		    stdin=subprocess.PIPE, stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
+		try:
+			async with validate_board_params(self._board_id, self._data,
+			    self._brdmgr, user=self._auth_user) as brd:
+				self._proc = await \
+				    asyncio.create_subprocess_exec('jexec',
+				    self._board_id, *msg['args'],
+				    stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
+				    stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
+		except BITEError as e:
+			raise RuntimeError(e.errobj.error)
 
 		self._did_exec = True
 
@@ -547,7 +556,7 @@ async def board_exec_ws(
 	try:
 		async with HandleExec(websocket.receive_bytes,
 		    websocket.send_bytes, data=data,
-		    board_id=board_id) as server:
+		    board_id=board_id, brdmgr=brdmgr) as server:
 			await server.get_finish_handler()
 	finally:
 		await websocket.close()
@@ -773,7 +782,29 @@ class TestWebSocket(TestCommon):
 			# that a valid auth token works
 			await client.auth(dict(bearer='thisisanapikey'))
 
-			# XXX - enforce board reservation and correct user
+			# That since the board isn't reserved, it fails
+			with self.assertRaisesRegex(RuntimeError,
+			    'Board not reserved.'):
+				await client.exec([ 'sshd', '-i' ], stdin=1,
+				    stdout=2)
+
+			# that when the board is reserved by the wrong user
+			brd = self.brdmgr.boards['cora-1']
+			obrdreq = await self.data.BoardStatus.objects.create(
+			    board='cora-1', user='bar')
+			async with brd.lock:
+				await brd.reserve()
+
+			# that it fails
+			with self.assertRaisesRegex(RuntimeError, 'Board reserved by \'bar\'.'):
+				await client.exec([ 'sshd', '-i' ], stdin=1, stdout=2)
+
+			brduser = await self.data.BoardStatus.objects.get(board='cora-1')
+			obrdreq = await self.data.BoardStatus.delete(brduser)
+
+			# that when the board is reserved by the correct user
+			obrdreq = await self.data.BoardStatus.objects.create(
+			    board='cora-1', user='foo')
 
 			echodata = b'somedata'
 			wrap_subprocess_exec(cse, stdout=echodata, retcode=0)