diff --git a/debian/cephadm.postinst b/debian/cephadm.postinst
index 274b7f7846a..50aa6f8dd51 100644
--- a/debian/cephadm.postinst
+++ b/debian/cephadm.postinst
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ case "$1" in
                  --system \
                  --disabled-password \
                  --home /home/cephadm \
-                 --gecos 'cephadm user for mgr/cephadm' \
                  --shell /bin/bash cephadm 2>/dev/null || true
+         usermod --comment "cephadm user for mgr/cephadm" cephadm
          echo "..done"
        fi