--- src/unix_user.c.orig	2006-01-23 11:47:26.000000000 -0600
+++ src/unix_user.c	2018-11-01 17:30:34.000000000 -0500
@@ -1204,9 +1204,12 @@
 
       /* A passwd field of more than one character, which starts with a star,
        * indicates a disabled account. */
+      // on Mac OS X, ******** is used for shadow passwords
+#ifndef __APPLE__
       if ( (crypted[0] == '*') && crypted[1])
 	goto fail;
-      
+#endif      
+
       home = passwd->pw_dir;
     }