diff --git a/bin/vhost-deploy.sh b/bin/vhost-deploy.sh
index 479a937..cd31ab9 100755
--- a/bin/vhost-deploy.sh
+++ b/bin/vhost-deploy.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ help()
   echo "usage: $thisfilename virtualhost [OPTIONS]"
   echo ""
   echo "  -h            Print this help."
-  echo "  -u USERNAME   Username to use for this virtualhost. Optional, defaults to first 8 characters of virtualhost."
+  echo "  -u USERNAME   Username to use for this virtualhost. Optional, defaults to first 8 alphanumeric characters of virtualhost."
   echo "  -p PASSWORD   Password for username. Optional, random password generated if none specified."
   echo "  -j            Whether or not to jail the user. Optional, default is to not jail user."
   exit
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ if [ -n "$1" ]; then
     help
   elif vhost::validate_domain $1; then
     virtualhost="${1,,}"
+    shift
   else
     echo "ERROR: Invalid virtualhost: $1"
     exit 1
@@ -75,6 +76,45 @@ fi
 if [ ! -n "$username" ]; then
   username=`echo $virtualhost | sed 's|\.||'`
   username=`echo ${username:0:8}`
+  if grep -q "^$username:" /etc/passwd; then
+    # username already exists, try another
+    username=`echo $virtualhost | sed 's|\.||'`
+    username=`echo ${username:0:7}`
+    if grep -q "^$username:" /etc/passwd; then
+      # username already exists, try another
+      username=`echo $virtualhost | sed 's|\.||'`
+      username=`echo ${username:0:6}`
+      if grep -q "^$username:" /etc/passwd; then
+        # username already exists, try another
+        username=`echo $virtualhost | sed 's|\.||'`
+        username=`echo ${username:0:5}`
+        if grep -q "^$username:" /etc/passwd; then
+          # username already exists, try another
+          username=`echo $virtualhost | sed 's|\.||'`
+          username=`echo ${username:0:9}`
+          if grep -q "^$username:" /etc/passwd; then
+            # username already exists, try another
+            username=`echo $virtualhost | sed 's|\.||'`
+            username=`echo ${username:0:10}`
+            if grep -q "^$username:" /etc/passwd; then
+              # username already exists, try another
+              username=`echo $virtualhost | sed 's|\.||'`
+              username=`echo ${username:0:11}`
+              if grep -q "^$username:" /etc/passwd; then
+                # username already exists, try another
+                username=`echo $virtualhost | sed 's|\.||'`
+                username=`echo ${username:0:12}`
+                if grep -q "^$username:" /etc/passwd; then
+                  echo "trouble setting unique username, specify '-u USERNAME' to use an existing username"
+                  exit 1
+                fi
+              fi
+            fi
+          fi
+        fi
+      fi
+    fi
+  fi
 fi
 
 if ! grep -q "^$username:" /etc/passwd; then