diff --git a/bin/vhost-deploy.sh b/bin/vhost-deploy.sh
index 0fce5c4..8ea283d 100755
--- a/bin/vhost-deploy.sh
+++ b/bin/vhost-deploy.sh
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ if [[ -d /srv/www/$domain ]] || [[ -f /etc/apache2/sites-available/$domain.conf
   exit 1
 fi
 
-# check for and set username
+# check for and set username (length between 3 and 12 characters)
 if [[ -z "$username" ]]; then
   strippeddomain=`echo $domain | sed 's|\.||'`
   strippeddomain=`echo $strippeddomain | sed 's|-||'`
@@ -64,8 +64,19 @@ if [[ -z "$username" ]]; then
                 # username already exists, try another
                 username=`echo ${strippeddomain:0:12}`
                 if grep -q "^$username:" /etc/passwd; then
-                  echo "trouble setting unique username, specify '-u USERNAME' to use an existing username"
-                  exit 1
+                  # username already exists, try another
+                  username=`echo ${strippeddomain:0:4}`
+                  if grep -q "^$username:" /etc/passwd; then
+                    # username already exists, try another
+                    username=`echo ${strippeddomain:0:3}`
+                    if grep -q "^$username:" /etc/passwd; then
+                      # username already exists, try another
+                      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