diff --git a/account/tbacct.in b/account/tbacct.in
index 7abf261727a92e7ff175669e39e518b5b479bd80..33d61f91480749b008fb2e4114f305c2d340b8d6 100644
--- a/account/tbacct.in
+++ b/account/tbacct.in
@@ -380,7 +380,11 @@ sub AddUser()
 	    $EUID = 0;
 	    return 0;
 	}
-	fatal("$user is not active! Cannot build an account!");
+	if ($force) {
+	    $target_user->SetStatus(USERSTATUS_ACTIVE());
+	    $status = USERSTATUS_ACTIVE();
+	}
+	fatal("$user is not active! Cannot build an account! Use -f option.");
     }
 
     $UID = 0;