diff --git a/m4/ax_icinga_user_group.m4 b/m4/ax_icinga_user_group.m4
index 531aedfee..9ad1f78e6 100644
--- a/m4/ax_icinga_user_group.m4
+++ b/m4/ax_icinga_user_group.m4
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([ACICINGA_CHECK_USER],[
   x=$1
   y=$2
   AC_MSG_CHECKING([if $y user $x exists])
-  AS_IF([ id -u $x ],
+  AS_IF([ getent passwd $x || dscl . -read /Users/$x ],
     [ AC_MSG_RESULT([found]) ],
     [ AC_MSG_ERROR([not found]) ])
 ])
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([ACICINGA_CHECK_GROUP],[
   x=$1
   y=$2
   AC_MSG_CHECKING([if $y group $x exists])
-  AS_IF([ id -g $x ],
+  AS_IF([ getent group $x || dscl . -read /Groups/$x ],
     [ AC_MSG_RESULT([found]) ],
     [ AC_MSG_ERROR([not found]) ])
 ])