diff --git a/chroot_setup.sh b/chroot_setup.sh
index daee18f..e5d8107 100644
--- a/chroot_setup.sh
+++ b/chroot_setup.sh
@@ -20,10 +20,21 @@ cat <<EOF >/etc/hosts
 EOF
 
 echo ">>> Creating users"
+
+# Root password
 echo "root:${ROOT_PASSWORD}" | chpasswd
-useradd -m -G wheel -s /bin/bash "${USERNAME}"
+
+# Create user only if missing
+if ! id -u "${USERNAME}" &>/dev/null; then
+  useradd -m -G wheel -s /bin/bash "${USERNAME}"
+else
+  echo "User ${USERNAME} already exists, skipping creation."
+fi
+
+# Always (re)set password
 echo "${USERNAME}:${USER_PASSWORD}" | chpasswd
 
+# Ensure sudoers configuration exists
 mkdir -p /etc/sudoers.d
 echo "%wheel ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL" > /etc/sudoers.d/10-wheel
 chmod 440 /etc/sudoers.d/10-wheel