Laravel logging System User fails

Im trying to log in a system user without sessions or cookies.

The following code in my middelware works unless the user id is from a system user:

   $interface_token = $request->header('token');

   if ($interface_token !== 'my_secret') {
        return response('Unauthorized', 401);
    }

    $user_id = 1; // Just for testing. Here I want to login a system user.

    $success = Auth::onceUsingId($user_id);

    if (!$success)
    {
        throw new Exception('failed!');
    }

I want to log in a system user since this specific routes are going to be call from an internal service not from a "real" user.

If I update the table users setting the system_user = 0 of user id 1, it works.

If system_user = 1 then it doesn't authenticate.

Is it possible to authenticate a system user?

I'm using Laravel 5.4

via Chebli Mohamed