diff --git a/src/newusers.c b/src/newusers.c
index f2bd71c0..c28f8d89 100644
--- a/src/newusers.c
+++ b/src/newusers.c
@@ -1206,8 +1206,8 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv)
 			fail_exit (EXIT_FAILURE);
 		}
 		lines[nusers-1]     = line;
-		usernames[nusers-1] = strdup (fields[0]);
-		passwords[nusers-1] = strdup (fields[1]);
+		usernames[nusers-1] = xstrdup(fields[0]);
+		passwords[nusers-1] = xstrdup(fields[1]);
 #endif				/* USE_PAM */
 		if (add_passwd (&newpw, fields[1]) != 0) {
 			fprintf (stderr,