diff --git a/src/rootfsinstall.sh b/src/rootfsinstall.sh
index 18650af..03d29b1 100755
--- a/src/rootfsinstall.sh
+++ b/src/rootfsinstall.sh
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ if [ "${SAVE_ROOT_PARTUUID}" -a "${GROWIMAGE}" ]; then
 fi
 
 if [ "$SETUSERPASSWORD" ]; then
-   echo "$SETUSERPASSWORD" | chroot $ROOTMP chpasswd || {
+   echo "$SETUSERPASSWORD" | chroot $ROOTMP chpasswd -m || {
       echo "ERROR: unable to set user password; aborting."
       exit 1
    }