diff --git a/distrobox-init b/distrobox-init
index febb2f8dad..82cea2d37b 100755
--- a/distrobox-init
+++ b/distrobox-init
@@ -216,7 +216,9 @@ echo "${container_user_name} ALL = (root) NOPASSWD:ALL" >>/etc/sudoers
 
 # Let's add our user to the container
 # if the user already exists, just add it to the sudoers groups
-groupadd --force --gid "${container_user_uid}" "${container_user_name}"
+if ! grep -q "${container_user_name}" /etc/group; then
+	groupadd --force --gid "${container_user_uid}" "${container_user_name}"
+fi
 if ! useradd \
 	--home-dir "${container_user_home}" \
 	--no-create-home \