diff --git a/docker/create_user b/docker/create_user
index 6dc1b11..d529cfe 100755
--- a/docker/create_user
+++ b/docker/create_user
@@ -7,4 +7,10 @@ if [ -z "$1" ]; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
-htpasswd -s $PASSWORD_FILE $1 $2
+if [ -z "$2" ]; then
+    # password from prompt
+    htpasswd -s $PASSWORD_FILE $1
+else
+    # read password from command line
+    htpasswd -s -b $PASSWORD_FILE $1 $2
+fi