--- mage/branches/alx-0_6_0/include/alx.minc	2011/06/30 15:16:33	2516
+++ mage/branches/alx-0_6_0/include/alx.minc	2011/06/30 15:22:45	2517
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 	local grubopts
 	local OLD_IFS
 	local grubconf="/boot/grub/grub.conf"
+	local pass
 
 	KERNEL_IMAGE="$1"
 	KERNEL_DESCRIPTION="$2"
@@ -93,8 +94,12 @@
 	: > ${grubconf}
 	echo "default 0" >> ${grubconf}
 	echo "timeout 3" >> ${grubconf}
-	# using roots current password
-	echo "password --md5 $(cat /etc/shadow | grep root | cut -d: -f2)"  >> ${grubconf}
+	# using roots current password if one was set
+	pass="$(grep '^root:' /etc/shadow | cut -d: -f2)"
+	if [[ -n ${pass} ]]
+	then
+		echo "password --md5 $(cat /etc/shadow | grep root | cut -d: -f2)"  >> ${grubconf}
+	fi
 	echo  >> ${grubconf}
 	echo "# normal boot" >> ${grubconf}
 	echo "title ${KERNEL_DESCRIPTION}" >> ${grubconf}