diff --git a/cta.spec.in b/cta.spec.in
index 45847d8800c7758c8c2210edf1cbfe81aaa33c4c..11587b71c1fe9893438ff047671ce913761619bf 100644
--- a/cta.spec.in
+++ b/cta.spec.in
@@ -106,12 +106,12 @@ Summary: CERN Tape Archive: tape daemon
 Group: Application/CTA
 Requires: logrotate
 Requires: cta-lib = %{version}-%{release}
-Requires(pre): /usr/bin/getent, /usr/sbin/groupadd, /usr/sbin/luseradd
+Requires(pre): /usr/bin/egrep, /usr/sbin/groupadd, /usr/sbin/luseradd
 %description -n cta-taped
 CERN Tape Archive:
 The tape server daemon
 %pre -n cta-taped
-/usr/bin/getent passwd cta || /usr/sbin/luseradd -s /bin/nologin -c "CTA system account" -g tape cta
+/usr/bin/egrep -q '^cta:' /etc/passwd || /usr/sbin/luseradd -s /bin/nologin -c "CTA system account" -g tape cta
 %files -n cta-taped
 %defattr(-,root,root)
 %attr(0755,cta,tape) %dir /var/log/cta
@@ -140,12 +140,12 @@ Group: Application/CTA
 Requires: logrotate
 Requires: cta-lib = %{version}-%{release}
 Requires: xrootd-server
-Requires(pre): /usr/bin/getent, /usr/sbin/groupadd, /usr/sbin/luseradd
+Requires(pre): /usr/bin/egrep, /usr/sbin/groupadd, /usr/sbin/luseradd
 %description -n cta-frontend
 CERN Tape Archive:
 The xroot plugin
 %pre -n cta-frontend
-/usr/bin/getent passwd cta || /usr/sbin/luseradd -s /bin/nologin -c "CTA system account" -g tape cta
+/usr/bin/egrep -q '^cta:' /etc/passwd || /usr/sbin/luseradd -s /bin/nologin -c "CTA system account" -g tape cta
 %files -n cta-frontend
 %defattr(0755,root,root)
 %{_libdir}/libXrdSsiCta.so*
@@ -300,12 +300,12 @@ Summary: Tools to faciliate working with acsd in cta
 Group: Application/CTA
 Requires: logrotate
 #Requires: cta-lib = %{version}-%{release}
-Requires(pre): /usr/bin/getent, /usr/sbin/groupadd, /usr/sbin/luseradd
+Requires(pre): /usr/bin/egrep, /usr/sbin/groupadd, /usr/sbin/luseradd
 %description -n cta-acsd
 CERN Tape Archive:
 Tools to faciliate working with acsd in cta
 %pre -n cta-acsd
-/usr/bin/getent passwd cta || /usr/sbin/luseradd -s /bin/nologin -c "CTA system account" -g tape cta
+/usr/bin/egrep -q '^cta:' /etc/passwd || /usr/sbin/luseradd -s /bin/nologin -c "CTA system account" -g tape cta
 %files -n cta-acsd
 %defattr(-,root,root)
 %attr(0755,cta,tape) %dir /var/log/cta
@@ -332,12 +332,12 @@ Summary: Tools to faciliate working with rmcd and smc in cta
 Group: Application/CTA
 Requires: logrotate
 #Requires: cta-lib = %{version}-%{release}
-Requires(pre): /usr/bin/getent, /usr/sbin/groupadd, /usr/sbin/luseradd
+Requires(pre): /usr/bin/egrep, /usr/sbin/groupadd, /usr/sbin/luseradd
 %description -n cta-rmcd
 CERN Tape Archive:
 Tools to faciliate working with rmcd and smc in cta
 %pre -n cta-rmcd
-/usr/bin/getent passwd cta || /usr/sbin/luseradd -s /bin/nologin -c "CTA system account" -g tape cta
+/usr/bin/egrep -q '^cta:' /etc/passwd || /usr/sbin/luseradd -s /bin/nologin -c "CTA system account" -g tape cta
 %files -n cta-rmcd
 %defattr(-,root,root)
 %attr(0755,cta,tape) %dir /var/log/cta