diff --git a/src/sysusers/sysusers.c b/src/sysusers/sysusers.c
index c55f7f8b7e..fafdef1706 100644
--- a/src/sysusers/sysusers.c
+++ b/src/sysusers/sysusers.c
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ static int write_temporary_passwd(const char *passwd_path, FILE **tmpfile, char
                         .pw_name = i->name,
                         .pw_uid = i->uid,
                         .pw_gid = i->gid,
-                        .pw_gecos = i->description,
+                        .pw_gecos = (char*) strempty(i->description),
 
                         /* "x" means the password is stored in the shadow file */
                         .pw_passwd = (char*) PASSWORD_SEE_SHADOW,