diff --git a/src/freedombone-utils-database b/src/freedombone-utils-database
index 7a6fff11..aeefabfb 100755
--- a/src/freedombone-utils-database
+++ b/src/freedombone-utils-database
@@ -168,6 +168,11 @@ function install_mariadb {
     #fi
     systemctl restart mariadb
 
+    # See http://www.pontikis.net/blog/debian-9-stretch-rc3-web-server-setup-php7-mariadb
+    # https://mariadb.com/kb/en/mariadb/unix_socket-authentication-plugin
+    function_check run_query
+    run_query msql "update mysql.user set plugin = '' where User='root'; flush privileges;"
+
     mysqladmin -u root password "$MARIADB_PASSWORD"
     mark_completed $FUNCNAME
 }