diff --git a/conf/type/__user/explorer/shadow b/conf/type/__user/explorer/shadow
index c75e36f4..a949ec51 100755
--- a/conf/type/__user/explorer/shadow
+++ b/conf/type/__user/explorer/shadow
@@ -22,6 +22,13 @@
 #
 
 name=$__object_id
+os="$($__explorer/os)"
+# Default to using shadow passwords
+database="shadow"
 
-getent shadow "$name" || true
+if [ "$os" = "freebsd" ]; then
+   database="passwd"
+fi
+
+getent "$database" "$name" || true