diff --git a/package/base-files/files/lib/functions.sh b/package/base-files/files/lib/functions.sh
index 6f22dd013a..b88d4d6217 100755
--- a/package/base-files/files/lib/functions.sh
+++ b/package/base-files/files/lib/functions.sh
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ default_postinst() {
 				}
 
 				gid=$id
-				[ -n "$gid" ] && group_add $name $gid
+				[ -n "$gid" ] && group_exists $name || group_add $name $gid
 				[ -z "$gid" ] && {
 					group_add_next $name
 					gid=$?