diff --git a/modules.d/95nfs/module-setup.sh b/modules.d/95nfs/module-setup.sh
index 0c077256..ecef635c 100755
--- a/modules.d/95nfs/module-setup.sh
+++ b/modules.d/95nfs/module-setup.sh
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ install() {
     # rpc user needs to be able to write to this directory to save the warmstart
     # file
     chmod 770 "$initdir/var/lib/rpcbind"
-    chown rpc.rpc "$initdir/var/lib/rpcbind"
+    egrep -q '^rpc:' /etc/passwd \
+        && egrep -q '^rpc:' /etc/group \
+        && chown rpc.rpc "$initdir/var/lib/rpcbind"
 }