diff --git a/poky/meta/classes-recipe/rootfs-postcommands.bbclass b/poky/meta/classes-recipe/rootfs-postcommands.bbclass
index 06388b7..29ee749 100644
--- a/poky/meta/classes-recipe/rootfs-postcommands.bbclass
+++ b/poky/meta/classes-recipe/rootfs-postcommands.bbclass
@@ -241,10 +241,10 @@
 #
 zap_empty_root_password () {
 	if [ -e ${IMAGE_ROOTFS}/etc/shadow ]; then
-		sed -i 's%^root::%root:*:%' ${IMAGE_ROOTFS}/etc/shadow
+		sed --follow-symlinks -i 's%^root::%root:*:%' ${IMAGE_ROOTFS}/etc/shadow
         fi
 	if [ -e ${IMAGE_ROOTFS}/etc/passwd ]; then
-		sed -i 's%^root::%root:*:%' ${IMAGE_ROOTFS}/etc/passwd
+		sed --follow-symlinks -i 's%^root::%root:*:%' ${IMAGE_ROOTFS}/etc/passwd
 	fi
 }