diff --git a/src/etc/rc.subr.d/recover b/src/etc/rc.subr.d/recover
index c15eb3810..5cea6142a 100755
--- a/src/etc/rc.subr.d/recover
+++ b/src/etc/rc.subr.d/recover
@@ -269,6 +269,9 @@ function recover_base($etc_group, $etc_master_passwd, $etc_shells, $etc_ttys, $p
         '/etc/master.passwd' => $etc_master_passwd,
     ];
 
+    /* make sure the temporary user does not linger */
+    mwexec('pw userdel installer', true);
+
     foreach ($partial_restore as $file => $content) {
         if (!file_exists($file) || filesize($file) === 0) {
             echo "===> Restoring $file\n";