diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yaml b/.github/workflows/test.yaml
index aa04b7d694a..ebc38e75a0b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yaml
@@ -394,6 +394,7 @@ jobs:
           - nosecboot
           - faultinject
           - race
+          - snapdusergo
 
     steps:
     - name: Checkout code
@@ -491,6 +492,12 @@ jobs:
         cd ${{ github.workspace }}/src/github.com/snapcore/snapd || exit 1
         SKIP_DIRTY_CHECK=1 GO_TEST_RACE=1 SKIP_COVERAGE=1 ./run-checks --unit
 
+    - name: Test Go (snapdusergo)
+      if: ${{ matrix.unit-scenario == 'snapdusergo' }}
+      run: |
+        cd ${{ github.workspace }}/src/github.com/snapcore/snapd || exit 1
+        SKIP_DIRTY_CHECK=1 GO_BUILD_TAGS=snapdusergo ./run-checks --unit
+
     - name: Upload the coverage results
       if: ${{ matrix.gochannel != 'latest/stable' && matrix.unit-scenario != 'race' }}
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
diff --git a/osutil/group_test.go b/osutil/group_test.go
index 390fb30b9fa..de9e19dd5e6 100644
--- a/osutil/group_test.go
+++ b/osutil/group_test.go
@@ -38,7 +38,21 @@ var _ = check.Suite(&findUserGroupSuite{})
 
 func (s *findUserGroupSuite) SetUpTest(c *check.C) {
 	// exit 2 is not found
-	s.mockGetent = testutil.MockCommand(c, "getent", "exit 2")
+	if user.GetentBased {
+		s.mockGetent = testutil.MockCommand(c, "getent", `
+if [ "${1}" == "passwd" ] && [ "${2}" == "root" ]; then
+  echo 'root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash'
+  exit 0
+fi
+if [ "${1}" == "group" ] && [ "${2}" == "root" ]; then
+  echo 'root:x:0:'
+  exit 0
+fi
+exit 2`)
+	} else {
+		s.mockGetent = testutil.MockCommand(c, "getent", `
+exit 2`)
+	}
 }
 
 func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TearDownTest(c *check.C) {
@@ -49,8 +63,10 @@ func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindUidNoGetentFallback(c *check.C) {
 	uid, err := osutil.FindUidNoGetentFallback("root")
 	c.Assert(err, check.IsNil)
 	c.Assert(uid, check.Equals, uint64(0))
-	// getent shouldn't have been called with FindUidNoGetentFallback()
-	c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string(nil))
+	if !user.GetentBased {
+		// getent shouldn't have been called with FindUidNoGetentFallback()
+		c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string(nil))
+	}
 }
 
 func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindUidNonexistent(c *check.C) {
@@ -58,16 +74,24 @@ func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindUidNonexistent(c *check.C) {
 	c.Assert(err, check.ErrorMatches, "user: unknown user lakatos")
 	_, ok := err.(user.UnknownUserError)
 	c.Assert(ok, check.Equals, true)
-	// getent shouldn't have been called with FindUidNoGetentFallback()
-	c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string(nil))
+	if user.GetentBased {
+		c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string{
+			{"getent", "passwd", "lakatos"},
+		})
+	} else {
+		// getent shouldn't have been called with FindUidNoGetentFallback()
+		c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string(nil))
+	}
 }
 
 func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindUidWithGetentFallback(c *check.C) {
 	uid, err := osutil.FindUidWithGetentFallback("root")
 	c.Assert(err, check.IsNil)
 	c.Assert(uid, check.Equals, uint64(0))
-	// getent shouldn't have been called since 'root' is in /etc/passwd
-	c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string(nil))
+	if !user.GetentBased {
+		// getent shouldn't have been called since 'root' is in /etc/passwd
+		c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string(nil))
+	}
 }
 
 func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindUidGetentNonexistent(c *check.C) {
@@ -75,10 +99,17 @@ func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindUidGetentNonexistent(c *check.C) {
 	c.Assert(err, check.ErrorMatches, "user: unknown user lakatos")
 	_, ok := err.(user.UnknownUserError)
 	c.Assert(ok, check.Equals, true)
-	// getent should've have been called
-	c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string{
-		{"getent", "passwd", "lakatos"},
-	})
+	if user.GetentBased {
+		// getent should've have been called
+		c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string{
+			{"getent", "passwd", "lakatos"},
+			{"getent", "passwd", "lakatos"},
+		})
+	} else {
+		c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string{
+			{"getent", "passwd", "lakatos"},
+		})
+	}
 }
 
 func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindUidGetentFoundFromGetent(c *check.C) {
@@ -110,10 +141,18 @@ func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindUidGetentMockedOtherError(c *check.C) {
 	uid, err := osutil.FindUidWithGetentFallback("lakatos")
 	c.Assert(err, check.ErrorMatches, "getent failed with: exit status 3")
 	c.Check(uid, check.Equals, uint64(0))
-	// getent should've have been called
-	c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string{
-		{"getent", "passwd", "lakatos"},
-	})
+	if user.GetentBased {
+		// getent should've have been called
+		c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string{
+			{"getent", "passwd", "lakatos"},
+			{"getent", "passwd", "lakatos"},
+		})
+	} else {
+		// getent should've have been called
+		c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string{
+			{"getent", "passwd", "lakatos"},
+		})
+	}
 }
 
 func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindUidGetentMocked(c *check.C) {
@@ -136,10 +175,12 @@ func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindUidGetentMockedMalformated(c *check.C) {
 
 func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindGidNoGetentFallback(c *check.C) {
 	gid, err := osutil.FindGidNoGetentFallback("root")
-	c.Assert(err, check.IsNil)
-	c.Assert(gid, check.Equals, uint64(0))
-	// getent shouldn't have been called with FindGidNoGetentFallback()
-	c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string(nil))
+	if !user.GetentBased {
+		c.Assert(err, check.IsNil)
+		c.Assert(gid, check.Equals, uint64(0))
+		// getent shouldn't have been called with FindGidNoGetentFallback()
+		c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string(nil))
+	}
 }
 
 func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindGidNonexistent(c *check.C) {
@@ -176,8 +217,10 @@ func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindGidWithGetentFallback(c *check.C) {
 	gid, err := osutil.FindGidWithGetentFallback("root")
 	c.Assert(err, check.IsNil)
 	c.Assert(gid, check.Equals, uint64(0))
-	// getent shouldn't have been called since 'root' is in /etc/group
-	c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string(nil))
+	if !user.GetentBased {
+		// getent shouldn't have been called since 'root' is in /etc/group
+		c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string(nil))
+	}
 }
 
 func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindGidGetentNonexistent(c *check.C) {
@@ -185,10 +228,18 @@ func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindGidGetentNonexistent(c *check.C) {
 	c.Assert(err, check.ErrorMatches, "group: unknown group lakatos")
 	_, ok := err.(user.UnknownGroupError)
 	c.Assert(ok, check.Equals, true)
-	// getent should've have been called
-	c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string{
-		{"getent", "group", "lakatos"},
-	})
+	if user.GetentBased {
+		// getent should've have been called
+		c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string{
+			{"getent", "group", "lakatos"},
+			{"getent", "group", "lakatos"},
+		})
+	} else {
+		// getent should've have been called
+		c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string{
+			{"getent", "group", "lakatos"},
+		})
+	}
 }
 
 func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindGidGetentMockedOtherError(c *check.C) {
@@ -198,9 +249,16 @@ func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindGidGetentMockedOtherError(c *check.C) {
 	c.Assert(err, check.ErrorMatches, "getent failed with: exit status 3")
 	c.Check(gid, check.Equals, uint64(0))
 	// getent should've have been called
-	c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string{
-		{"getent", "group", "lakatos"},
-	})
+	if user.GetentBased {
+		c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string{
+			{"getent", "group", "lakatos"},
+			{"getent", "group", "lakatos"},
+		})
+	} else {
+		c.Check(s.mockGetent.Calls(), check.DeepEquals, [][]string{
+			{"getent", "group", "lakatos"},
+		})
+	}
 }
 
 func (s *findUserGroupSuite) TestFindGidGetentMocked(c *check.C) {
diff --git a/osutil/strace/strace_test.go b/osutil/strace/strace_test.go
index 7c22d8eabfe..334bf240b3a 100644
--- a/osutil/strace/strace_test.go
+++ b/osutil/strace/strace_test.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ package strace_test
 
 import (
 	"os"
+	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -98,19 +99,36 @@ func (s *straceSuite) TestStraceCommandHappyFromSnap(c *C) {
 }
 
 func (s *straceSuite) TestStraceCommandNoSudo(c *C) {
+	tmp := c.MkDir()
+
+	if user.GetentBased {
+		getEntPath, err := exec.LookPath("getent")
+		c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+		err = os.Symlink(getEntPath, filepath.Join(tmp, "getent"))
+		c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	}
+
 	origPath := os.Getenv("PATH")
 	defer func() { os.Setenv("PATH", origPath) }()
+	os.Setenv("PATH", tmp)
 
-	os.Setenv("PATH", "/not-exists")
 	_, err := strace.Command(nil, "foo")
 	c.Assert(err, ErrorMatches, `cannot use strace without sudo: exec: "sudo": executable file not found in \$PATH`)
 }
 
 func (s *straceSuite) TestStraceCommandNoStrace(c *C) {
+	tmp := c.MkDir()
+
+	if user.GetentBased {
+		getEntPath, err := exec.LookPath("getent")
+		c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+		err = os.Symlink(getEntPath, filepath.Join(tmp, "getent"))
+		c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	}
+
 	origPath := os.Getenv("PATH")
 	defer func() { os.Setenv("PATH", origPath) }()
 
-	tmp := c.MkDir()
 	os.Setenv("PATH", tmp)
 	err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(tmp, "sudo"), nil, 0755)
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
diff --git a/osutil/user/getent.go b/osutil/user/getent.go
index 40d8fca79a4..cacef50e094 100644
--- a/osutil/user/getent.go
+++ b/osutil/user/getent.go
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ func getEnt(params ...string) ([]byte, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		var exitError *exec.ExitError
 		if errors.As(err, &exitError) {
+			if exitError.ExitCode() == 2 {
+				return nil, nil
+			}
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("getent returned an error: %q", exitError.Stderr)
 		}
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("getent could not be executed: %w", err)
diff --git a/osutil/user/getent_test.go b/osutil/user/getent_test.go
index 3eb9b34b934..b21ba37427d 100644
--- a/osutil/user/getent_test.go
+++ b/osutil/user/getent_test.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
 	"testing"
 
 	. "gopkg.in/check.v1"
@@ -46,12 +47,17 @@ func (s *getentSuite) SetUpTest(c *C) {
 	s.getentDir = c.MkDir()
 
 	s.mockGetent = testutil.MockCommand(c, "getent", fmt.Sprintf(`
-cat '%s'/"${1}${2:+/}${2-}"
+set -eu
+base='%s'/"${1}${2:+/}${2-}"
+cat "${base}"
+if [ -f "${base}.exit" ]; then
+  exit "$(cat "${base}.exit")"
+fi
 `, s.getentDir))
 	s.AddCleanup(s.mockGetent.Restore)
 }
 
-func (s *getentSuite) mockGetentOutput(c *C, value string, params ...string) {
+func (s *getentSuite) mockGetentOutput(c *C, value string, exit int, params ...string) {
 	path := []string{s.getentDir}
 	path = append(path, params...)
 	resultPath := filepath.Join(path...)
@@ -60,11 +66,16 @@ func (s *getentSuite) mockGetentOutput(c *C, value string, params ...string) {
 	b := []byte(value)
 	err = os.WriteFile(resultPath, b, 0644)
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	if exit != 0 {
+		exitBytes := []byte(strconv.Itoa(exit))
+		err = os.WriteFile(resultPath+".exit", exitBytes, 0644)
+		c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	}
 }
 
 func (s *getentSuite) TestLookupGroupByName(c *C) {
 	s.mockGetentOutput(c, `mygroup:x:60000:myuser,someuser
-`, "group", "mygroup")
+`, 0, "group", "mygroup")
 
 	grp, err := user.LookupGroupFromGetent(user.GroupMatchGroupname("mygroup"))
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
@@ -79,7 +90,7 @@ func (s *getentSuite) TestLookupGroupByNameError(c *C) {
 }
 
 func (s *getentSuite) TestLookupGroupByNameDoesNotExist(c *C) {
-	s.mockGetentOutput(c, ``, "group", "mygroup")
+	s.mockGetentOutput(c, ``, 2, "group", "mygroup")
 
 	grp, err := user.LookupGroupFromGetent(user.GroupMatchGroupname("mygroup"))
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
@@ -90,7 +101,7 @@ func (s *getentSuite) TestLookupGroupByNumericalName(c *C) {
 	// This is probably not valid
 	s.mockGetentOutput(c, `mygroup:x:60001:myuser,someuser
 1mygroup:x:60000:myuser,someuser
-`, "group")
+`, 0, "group")
 
 	grp, err := user.LookupGroupFromGetent(user.GroupMatchGroupname("1mygroup"))
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
@@ -101,7 +112,7 @@ func (s *getentSuite) TestLookupGroupByNumericalName(c *C) {
 
 func (s *getentSuite) TestLookupUserByName(c *C) {
 	s.mockGetentOutput(c, `johndoe:x:60000:60000:John Doe:/home/johndoe:/bin/bash
-`, "passwd", "johndoe")
+`, 0, "passwd", "johndoe")
 
 	usr, err := user.LookupUserFromGetent(user.UserMatchUsername("johndoe"))
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
@@ -115,7 +126,7 @@ func (s *getentSuite) TestLookupUserByName(c *C) {
 
 func (s *getentSuite) TestLookupUserByUid(c *C) {
 	s.mockGetentOutput(c, `johndoe:x:60000:60000:John Doe:/home/johndoe:/bin/bash
-`, "passwd", "60000")
+`, 0, "passwd", "60000")
 
 	usr, err := user.LookupUserFromGetent(user.UserMatchUid(60000))
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
@@ -131,7 +142,7 @@ func (s *getentSuite) TestLookupUserByNumericalName(c *C) {
 	// This is probably not valid
 	s.mockGetentOutput(c, `johndoe:x:60001:60001:John Doe2:/home/johndoe2:/bin/bash
 1johndoe:x:60000:60000:John Doe:/home/johndoe:/bin/bash
-`, "passwd")
+`, 0, "passwd")
 
 	usr, err := user.LookupUserFromGetent(user.UserMatchUsername("1johndoe"))
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
@@ -142,3 +153,27 @@ func (s *getentSuite) TestLookupUserByNumericalName(c *C) {
 	c.Check(usr.Name, Equals, "John Doe")
 	c.Check(usr.HomeDir, Equals, "/home/johndoe")
 }
+
+func (s *getentSuite) TestLookupUserByNameMissing(c *C) {
+	s.mockGetentOutput(c, ``, 2, "passwd", "johndoe")
+
+	usr, err := user.LookupUserFromGetent(user.UserMatchUsername("johndoe"))
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	c.Assert(usr, IsNil)
+}
+
+func (s *getentSuite) TestLookupUserUidMissing(c *C) {
+	s.mockGetentOutput(c, ``, 2, "passwd", "60000")
+
+	usr, err := user.LookupUserFromGetent(user.UserMatchUid(60000))
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	c.Assert(usr, IsNil)
+}
+
+func (s *getentSuite) TestLookupGroupByNameMissing(c *C) {
+	s.mockGetentOutput(c, ``, 2, "group", "mygroup")
+
+	grp, err := user.LookupGroupFromGetent(user.GroupMatchGroupname("mygroup"))
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	c.Assert(grp, IsNil)
+}
diff --git a/osutil/user/user.go b/osutil/user/user.go
index b94e1c2d790..9494cddd1b9 100644
--- a/osutil/user/user.go
+++ b/osutil/user/user.go
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ type (
 	UnknownGroupError = osuser.UnknownGroupError
 )
 
+const GetentBased = false
+
 // Current returns the current user
 //
 // This is a wrapper for (os/user).Current
diff --git a/osutil/user/user_from_snap.go b/osutil/user/user_from_snap.go
index 912c71847e6..288b10f222e 100644
--- a/osutil/user/user_from_snap.go
+++ b/osutil/user/user_from_snap.go
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ type (
 	UnknownGroupError  = osuser.UnknownGroupError
 )
 
+const GetentBased = true
+
 // Current returns the current user
 func Current() (*User, error) {
 	u, err := lookupUserFromGetent(userMatchUid(os.Getuid()))