diff --git a/src/extensions/extension_age_restriction.c b/src/extensions/extension_age_restriction.c
index 8005b2ffe..28b2dbb1e 100644
--- a/src/extensions/extension_age_restriction.c
+++ b/src/extensions/extension_age_restriction.c
@@ -230,8 +230,13 @@ age_restriction_load_taler_config (
     _config.mask.mask = mask.mask;
     _config.num_groups = __builtin_popcount (mask.mask) - 1; /* no underflow, first bit always set */
     this->config = &_config;
+
+    /* Note: we do now have _config set, however this->config_json is NOT set,
+     * i.e. the extension is not yet active! For age restriction to become
+     * active, load_json_config must have been called. */
   }
 
+
   GNUNET_free (groups);
   return ret;
 }
@@ -351,7 +356,7 @@ struct TALER_Extension _extension_age_restriction = {
 };
 
 bool
-TALER_extensions_age_restriction_enabled ()
+TALER_extensions_age_restriction_is_configured ()
 {
   return (0 != _config.mask.mask);
 }
diff --git a/src/extensions/extensions.c b/src/extensions/extensions.c
index 244514377..516c56a43 100644
--- a/src/extensions/extensions.c
+++ b/src/extensions/extensions.c
@@ -334,4 +334,16 @@ TALER_extensions_load_json_config (
 }
 
 
+bool
+TALER_extensions_age_restriction_is_enabled ()
+{
+  const struct TALER_Extension *age =
+    TALER_extensions_get_by_type (TALER_Extension_AgeRestriction);
+
+  return (NULL != age &&
+          NULL != age->config_json &&
+          TALER_extensions_age_restriction_is_configured ());
+}
+
+
 /* end of extensions.c */
diff --git a/src/include/taler_extensions.h b/src/include/taler_extensions.h
index b95f3e7f3..b7b93e178 100644
--- a/src/include/taler_extensions.h
+++ b/src/include/taler_extensions.h
@@ -233,13 +233,21 @@ TALER_age_mask_to_string (
   const struct TALER_AgeMask *mask);
 
 /**
- * Returns true when age restriction is enabled
+ * Returns true when age restriction is configured and enabled.
  */
 bool
-TALER_extensions_age_restriction_enabled ();
+TALER_extensions_age_restriction_is_enabled ();
 
 /**
- * Returns the currently set age mask
+ * Returns true when age restriction is configured (might not be _enabled_,
+ * though).
+ */
+bool
+TALER_extensions_age_restriction_is_configured ();
+
+/**
+ * Returns the currently set age mask.  Note that even if age restriction is
+ * not enabled, the age mask might be have a non-zero value.
  */
 struct TALER_AgeMask
 TALER_extensions_age_restriction_ageMask ();