I think I can reproduce this bug. It seems to happen explicitly after I log out (to gdm) and then log back in again. I could setup a user with a non-encrypted home on this same machine to see if the behavior is truly specific to encrypted homes only or is related to some session/login issue on it. But now that I can reproduce it, it should be easy to answer these and perhaps other questions. I had started with an xubuntu 11.04 amd64 desktop cd, and it is current to today's updates. lsb_release -rd Description: Ubuntu 11.04 Release: 11.04 from mount: /dev/sda2 on / type ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=0) proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev) none on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev) fusectl on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw) none on /sys/kernel/debug type debugfs (rw) none on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw) none on /dev type devtmpfs (rw,mode=0755) none on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,noexec,nosuid,gid=5,mode=0620) none on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev) none on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755) none on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev) /dev/sda3 on /home type ext4 (rw,commit=0) gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/dyfet/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=dyfet) /home/dyfet/.Private on /home/dyfet type ecryptfs (ecryptfs_cipher=aes,ecryptfs_key_bytes=16,ecryptfs_unlink_sigs,ecryptfs_sig=c78d5f4ebad65466,ecryptfs_fnek_sig=10522851b850cc04) May 26 19:15:53 apollo NetworkManager[797]: (eth1): device state change: 8 -> 3 (reason 38) May 26 19:15:53 apollo NetworkManager[797]: (eth1): deactivating device (reason: 38). May 26 19:15:53 apollo NetworkManager[797]: (eth1): canceled DHCP transaction, DHCP client pid 1487 May 26 19:15:53 apollo wpa_supplicant[936]: CTRL-EVENT-DISCONNECTED bssid=00:00:00:00:00:00 reason=0 May 26 19:15:53 apollo avahi-daemon[801]: Withdrawing address record for 192.168.1.102 on eth1. May 26 19:15:53 apollo avahi-daemon[801]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on interface eth1.IPv4 with address 192.168.1.102. May 26 19:15:53 apollo avahi-daemon[801]: Interface eth1.IPv4 no longer relevant for mDNS. May 26 19:15:54 apollo acpid: client connected from 2082[0:0] May 26 19:15:54 apollo acpid: 1 client rule loaded May 26 19:15:55 apollo gnome-session[2105]: WARNING: Could not launch application 'metacity.desktop': Unable to start application: Failed to execute child process "metacity" (No such file or directory) May 26 19:15:55 apollo gnome-session[2105]: WARNING: Could not launch application 'gnome-power-manager.desktop': Unable to start application: Failed to execute child process "gnome-power-manager" (No such file or directory) May 26 19:15:55 apollo gdm-simple-greeter[2118]: Gtk-WARNING: /build/buildd/gtk+2.0-2.24.4/gtk/gtkwidget.c:5687: widget not within a GtkWindow May 26 19:15:55 apollo gdm-simple-greeter[2118]: WARNING: Unable to load CK history: no seat-id found May 26 19:15:55 apollo gdm-simple-greeter[2118]: Gtk-WARNING: gtk_widget_size_allocate(): attempt to allocate widget with width 378 and height -1 May 26 19:15:55 apollo gdm-simple-greeter[2118]: Gtk-WARNING: gtk_widget_size_allocate(): attempt to allocate widget with width 378 and height -1 May 26 19:15:58 apollo gdm-session-worker[2126]: GLib-GObject-CRITICAL: g_value_get_boolean: assertion `G_VALUE_HOLDS_BOOLEAN (value)' failed May 26 19:16:03 apollo gdm-session-worker[2126]: pam_sm_authenticate: Called May 26 19:16:03 apollo gdm-session-worker[2126]: pam_sm_authenticate: username = [dyfet] May 26 19:16:03 apollo gdm-session-worker[2139]: Passphrase file wrapped May 26 19:16:06 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) starting connection 'Auto merlin' May 26 19:16:06 apollo NetworkManager[797]: (eth1): device state change: 3 -> 4 (reason 0) May 26 19:16:06 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) scheduled... May 26 19:16:06 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) started... May 26 19:16:06 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) scheduled... May 26 19:16:06 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete. May 26 19:16:06 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) starting... May 26 19:16:06 apollo NetworkManager[797]: (eth1): device state change: 4 -> 5 (reason 0) May 26 19:16:06 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1/wireless): connection 'Auto merlin' requires no security. No secrets needed. May 26 19:16:06 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Config: added 'ssid' value 'merlin' May 26 19:16:06 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Config: added 'scan_ssid' value '1' May 26 19:16:06 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Config: added 'key_mgmt' value 'NONE' May 26 19:16:06 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) complete. May 26 19:16:06 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Config: set interface ap_scan to 1 May 26 19:16:06 apollo NetworkManager[797]: (eth1): supplicant connection state: disconnected -> scanning May 26 19:16:06 apollo wpa_supplicant[936]: Trying to associate with 00:40:77:bb:55:03 (SSID='merlin' freq=2437 MHz) May 26 19:16:06 apollo NetworkManager[797]: (eth1): supplicant connection state: scanning -> associating May 26 19:16:06 apollo wpa_supplicant[936]: Association request to the driver failed May 26 19:16:07 apollo wpa_supplicant[936]: Associated with 00:40:77:bb:55:03 May 26 19:16:07 apollo wpa_supplicant[936]: CTRL-EVENT-CONNECTED - Connection to 00:40:77:bb:55:03 completed (reauth) [id=0 id_str=] May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: (eth1): supplicant connection state: associating -> associated May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: (eth1): supplicant connection state: associated -> completed May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1/wireless) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) successful. Connected to wireless network 'merlin'. May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) scheduled. May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) started... May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: (eth1): device state change: 5 -> 7 (reason 0) May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) Beginning DHCPv4 transaction (timeout in 45 seconds) May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: dhclient started with pid 2314 May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) complete. May 26 19:16:07 apollo dhclient: Internet Systems Consortium DHCP Client 4.1.1-P1 May 26 19:16:07 apollo dhclient: Copyright 2004-2010 Internet Systems Consortium. May 26 19:16:07 apollo dhclient: All rights reserved. May 26 19:16:07 apollo dhclient: For info, please visit https://www.isc.org/software/dhcp/ May 26 19:16:07 apollo dhclient: May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: (eth1): DHCPv4 state changed nbi -> preinit May 26 19:16:07 apollo dhclient: Listening on LPF/eth1/00:22:5f:f2:c5:20 May 26 19:16:07 apollo dhclient: Sending on LPF/eth1/00:22:5f:f2:c5:20 May 26 19:16:07 apollo dhclient: Sending on Socket/fallback May 26 19:16:07 apollo dhclient: DHCPREQUEST of 192.168.1.102 on eth1 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 May 26 19:16:07 apollo dhclient: DHCPACK of 192.168.1.102 from 192.168.1.1 May 26 19:16:07 apollo dhclient: bound to 192.168.1.102 -- renewal in 40544 seconds. May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: (eth1): DHCPv4 state changed preinit -> reboot May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) Stage 4 of 5 (IP4 Configure Get) scheduled... May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) Stage 4 of 5 (IP4 Configure Get) started... May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: address 192.168.1.102 May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: prefix 24 (255.255.255.0) May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: gateway 192.168.1.1 May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: hostname 'apollo' May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: nameserver '192.168.1.1' May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Scheduling stage 5 May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) Stage 5 of 5 (IP Configure Commit) scheduled... May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Done scheduling stage 5 May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) Stage 4 of 5 (IP4 Configure Get) complete. May 26 19:16:07 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) Stage 5 of 5 (IP Configure Commit) started... May 26 19:16:07 apollo avahi-daemon[801]: Joining mDNS multicast group on interface eth1.IPv4 with address 192.168.1.102. May 26 19:16:07 apollo avahi-daemon[801]: New relevant interface eth1.IPv4 for mDNS. May 26 19:16:07 apollo avahi-daemon[801]: Registering new address record for 192.168.1.102 on eth1.IPv4. May 26 19:16:08 apollo NetworkManager[797]: (eth1): device state change: 7 -> 8 (reason 0) May 26 19:16:08 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Policy set 'Auto merlin' (eth1) as default for IPv4 routing and DNS. May 26 19:16:08 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) successful, device activated. May 26 19:16:08 apollo NetworkManager[797]: Activation (eth1) Stage 5 of 5 (IP Configure Commit) complete. May 26 19:16:16 apollo ntpdate[2368]: adjust time server 91.189.94.4 offset 0.001836 sec May 26 19:17:01 apollo CRON[2386]: (root) CMD ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.hourly) cat ~/.xsession-errors /etc/gdm/Xsession: Beginning session setup... Setting IM through im-switch for locale=en_US. Start IM through /etc/X11/xinit/xinput.d/all_ALL linked to /etc/X11/xinit/xinput.d/default. /usr/bin/startxfce4: X server already running on display :0 xrdb: "Xft.hinting" on line 13 overrides entry on line 6 xrdb: "Xft.hintstyle" on line 14 overrides entry on line 7 ssh-agent is already running GNOME_KEYRING_CONTROL=/tmp/keyring-JC0U2c xfdesktop[2224]: starting up GNOME_KEYRING_CONTROL=/tmp/keyring-JC0U2c GNOME_KEYRING_CONTROL=/tmp/keyring-JC0U2c SSH_AUTH_SOCK=/tmp/keyring-JC0U2c/ssh (polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1:2246): polkit-gnome-1-WARNING **: Failed to register client: The name org.gnome.SessionManager was not provided by any .service files libpager-Message: Failed to set the number of pager rows. You probably have more than 1 pager in your panel setup. (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): xfce4-indicator-plugin-DEBUG: Looking at Module: libsoundmenu.so (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): xfce4-indicator-plugin-DEBUG: Loading Module: libsoundmenu.so ** (nm-applet:2257): DEBUG: old state indicates that this was not a disconnect 0 GLib-GIO-Message: Using the 'memory' GSettings backend. Your settings will not be saved or shared with other applications. (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): libindicator-WARNING **: IndicatorObject class does not have an accessible description. (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): xfce4-indicator-plugin-DEBUG: Looking at Module: libapplication.so (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): xfce4-indicator-plugin-DEBUG: Loading Module: libapplication.so (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): xfce4-indicator-plugin-DEBUG: Looking at Module: libmessaging.so (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): xfce4-indicator-plugin-DEBUG: Loading Module: libmessaging.so (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): libindicator-WARNING **: IndicatorObject class does not have an accessible description. (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): libxfce4panel-CRITICAL **: IA__xfce_panel_plugin_add_action_widget: assertion `GTK_IS_WIDGET (widget)' failed (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): Indicator-Application-DEBUG: Connected to Application Indicator Service. (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): Indicator-Application-DEBUG: Request current apps (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): Indicator-Messages-DEBUG: new_application_item ("Pidgin Internet Messenger") (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): Indicator-Sound-DEBUG: indicator-sound: new_volume_slider_widget (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): Indicator-Sound-DEBUG: indicator-sound: new_voip_slider_widget (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): Indicator-Sound-DEBUG: new_title_widget ("gmusicbrowser") (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): Indicator-Sound-DEBUG: indicator-sound: new_metadata_widget (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): Indicator-Sound-DEBUG: indicator-sound: new_transport_bar() called (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): Gtk-CRITICAL **: IA__gtk_widget_realize: assertion `GTK_WIDGET_ANCHORED (widget) || GTK_IS_INVISIBLE (widget)' failed ** (nm-applet:2257): DEBUG: foo_client_state_changed_cb (xfce4-indicator-plugin:2278): Indicator-Application-DEBUG: Building new application entry: :1.27 with icon: nm-stage02-connecting02 at position 0 ** (nm-applet:2257): DEBUG: foo_client_state_changed_cb (xfce4-settings-manager:2393): xfce4-settings-manager-DEBUG: geometry = (200,200) (xfdesktop-settings:2397): Gtk-WARNING **: gtk_widget_size_allocate(): attempt to allocate widget with width -5 and height 17 (xfdesktop-settings:2397): Gtk-WARNING **: gtk_widget_size_allocate(): attempt to allocate widget with width -5 and height 17 (xfdesktop-settings:2397): Gtk-WARNING **: gtk_widget_size_allocate(): attempt to allocate widget with width -5 and height 17 (xfdesktop-settings:2397): Gtk-WARNING **: gtk_widget_size_allocate(): attempt to allocate widget with width -5 and height 17 (xfdesktop-settings:2397): Gtk-WARNING **: gtk_widget_size_allocate(): attempt to allocate widget with width -5 and height 17 (xfdesktop-settings:2397): Gtk-WARNING **: gtk_widget_size_allocate(): attempt to allocate widget with width -5 and height 17 (xfdesktop-settings:2397): Gtk-WARNING **: gtk_widget_size_allocate(): attempt to allocate widget with width -5 and height 17 (xfdesktop-settings:2397): Gtk-WARNING **: gtk_widget_size_allocate(): attempt to allocate widget with width -5 and height 17 (xfce4-settings-manager:2393): xfce4-settings-manager-DEBUG: geometry = (200,200)