diff --git a/src/parse_args.c b/src/parse_args.c
index 00aeda764..819e432fe 100644
--- a/src/parse_args.c
+++ b/src/parse_args.c
@@ -129,6 +129,8 @@ parse_args(int argc, char **argv, int *nargc, char ***nargv, char ***settingsp,
     int valid_flags, ch;
     int i, j;
     char *cp, **env_add, **settings;
+    const char *runas_user = NULL;
+    const char *runas_group = NULL;
     const char *debug_flags;
     int nenv = 0;
     int env_size = 32;
@@ -282,8 +284,6 @@ parse_args(int argc, char **argv, int *nargc, char ***nargv, char ***settingsp,
 		    SET(flags, MODE_SHELL);
 		    break;
 		case 'U':
-		    if ((getpwnam(optarg)) == NULL)
-			fatalx(_("unknown user: %s"), optarg);
 		    list_user = optarg;
 		    break;
 		case 'u':
diff --git a/src/sudo.c b/src/sudo.c
index 0de32d4c1..e9eac66ca 100644
--- a/src/sudo.c
+++ b/src/sudo.c
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@
 struct plugin_container policy_plugin;
 struct plugin_container_list io_plugins;
 struct user_details user_details;
-const char *list_user, *runas_user, *runas_group; /* extern for parse_args.c */
+const char *list_user; /* extern for parse_args.c */
 static struct command_details command_details;
 static int sudo_mode;
 
diff --git a/src/sudo.h b/src/sudo.h
index 703e3980b..26c9025a2 100644
--- a/src/sudo.h
+++ b/src/sudo.h
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ bool exec_setup(struct command_details *details, const char *ptyname, int ptyfd)
 int policy_init_session(struct command_details *details);
 int run_command(struct command_details *details);
 int os_init_common(int argc, char *argv[], char *envp[]);
-extern const char *list_user, *runas_user, *runas_group;
+extern const char *list_user;
 extern struct user_details user_details;
 
 /* sudo_edit.c */