diff --git a/gnu/system.scm b/gnu/system.scm
index 5632029f73..0aec872e6c 100644
--- a/gnu/system.scm
+++ b/gnu/system.scm
@@ -490,6 +490,7 @@ (define %base-packages
          lsof                                 ;for Guix's 'list-runtime-roots'
          pciutils usbutils
          util-linux inetutils isc-dhcp
+         shadow                                   ;for 'passwd'
 
          ;; wireless-tools is deprecated in favor of iw, but it's still what
          ;; many people are familiar with, so keep it around.