diff --git a/lib/util.c b/lib/util.c
index 62ad7bd..37f0463 100644
--- a/lib/util.c
+++ b/lib/util.c
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ EXPORTED int become_cyrus(int is_master)
     p = getpwnam(cyrus);
     if (p == NULL) {
         syslog(LOG_ERR, "no entry in /etc/passwd for user %s", cyrus);
-        return -1;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     /* Save these in case initgroups does a getpw*() */
@@ -625,13 +625,13 @@ EXPORTED int become_cyrus(int is_master)
     if (initgroups(cyrus, newgid)) {
         syslog(LOG_ERR, "unable to initialize groups for user %s: %s",
                cyrus, strerror(errno));
-        return -1;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     if (setgid(newgid)) {
         syslog(LOG_ERR, "unable to set group id to %d for user %s: %s",
               newgid, cyrus, strerror(errno));
-        return -1;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     result = cap_setuid(newuid, is_master);