diff --git a/automated install/basic-install.sh b/automated install/basic-install.sh
index 933a28a9..26542853 100755
--- a/automated install/basic-install.sh	
+++ b/automated install/basic-install.sh	
@@ -1768,18 +1768,49 @@ create_pihole_user() {
     printf "  %b %s..." "${INFO}" "${str}"
     # If the user pihole exists,
     if id -u pihole &> /dev/null; then
-        # just show a success
-        printf "%b  %b %s\\n" "${OVER}" "${TICK}" "${str}"
+        # if group exists
+        if getent group pihole > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+            # just show a success
+            printf "%b  %b %s\\n" "${OVER}" "${TICK}" "${str}"
+        else
+            local str="Checking for group 'pihole'"
+            printf "  %b %s..." "${INFO}" "${str}"
+            local str="Creating group 'pihole'"
+            # if group can be created
+            if groupadd pihole; then
+                printf "%b  %b %s\\n" "${OVER}" "${TICK}" "${str}"
+                local str="Adding user 'pihole' to group 'pihole'"
+                printf "  %b %s..." "${INFO}" "${str}"
+                # if pihole user can be added to group pihole
+                if usermod -g pihole pihole; then
+                    printf "%b  %b %s\\n" "${OVER}" "${TICK}" "${str}"
+                else
+                    printf "%b  %b %s\\n" "${OVER}" "${CROSS}" "${str}"
+                fi
+            else
+                printf "%b  %b %s\\n" "${OVER}" "${CROSS}" "${str}"
+            fi
+        fi
     # Otherwise,
     else
         printf "%b  %b %s" "${OVER}" "${CROSS}" "${str}"
         local str="Creating user 'pihole'"
         printf "%b  %b %s..." "${OVER}" "${INFO}" "${str}"
         # create her with the useradd command
-        if useradd -r -s /usr/sbin/nologin pihole; then
-          printf "%b  %b %s\\n" "${OVER}" "${TICK}" "${str}"
+        if getent group pihole > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+            # add primary group pihole as it already exists
+            if useradd -r --no-user-group -g pihole -s /usr/sbin/nologin pihole; then
+                printf "%b  %b %s\\n" "${OVER}" "${TICK}" "${str}"
+            else
+                printf "%b  %b %s\\n" "${OVER}" "${CROSS}" "${str}"
+            fi
         else
-          printf "%b  %b %s\\n" "${OVER}" "${CROSS}" "${str}"
+            # add user pihole with default group settings
+            if useradd -r -s /usr/sbin/nologin pihole; then
+                printf "%b  %b %s\\n" "${OVER}" "${TICK}" "${str}"
+            else
+                printf "%b  %b %s\\n" "${OVER}" "${CROSS}" "${str}"
+            fi
         fi
     fi
 }
diff --git a/automated install/uninstall.sh b/automated install/uninstall.sh
index 01ce9c39..5dab2136 100755
--- a/automated install/uninstall.sh	
+++ b/automated install/uninstall.sh	
@@ -188,6 +188,14 @@ removeNoPurge() {
             echo -e "  ${CROSS} Unable to remove 'pihole' user"
         fi
     fi
+    # If the pihole group exists, then remove
+    if getent group "pihole" &> /dev/null; then
+        if ${SUDO} groupdel pihole 2> /dev/null; then
+            echo -e "  ${TICK} Removed 'pihole' group"
+        else
+            echo -e "  ${CROSS} Unable to remove 'pihole' group"
+        fi
+    fi
 
     echo -e "\\n   We're sorry to see you go, but thanks for checking out Pi-hole!
        If you need help, reach out to us on Github, Discourse, Reddit or Twitter
diff --git a/test/test_automated_install.py b/test/test_automated_install.py
index c0bd1ebe..fef9eb99 100644
--- a/test/test_automated_install.py
+++ b/test/test_automated_install.py
@@ -92,6 +92,51 @@ def test_setupVars_saved_to_file(Pihole):
         assert "{}={}".format(k, v) in output
 
 
+def test_pihole_user_group_creation(Pihole):
+    '''
+    check user creation works if user or group already exist
+    '''
+    sudo_cmd = 'su --shell /bin/bash --command "{0}" -p root'
+    # normal situation where neither user or group exist
+    user_create = Pihole.run('''
+    source /opt/pihole/basic-install.sh
+    create_pihole_user
+    ''')
+    expected_stdout = tick_box + ' Creating user \'pihole\''
+    assert expected_stdout in user_create.stdout
+    # situation where both user and group already exist
+    user_create = Pihole.run('''
+    source /opt/pihole/basic-install.sh
+    create_pihole_user
+    ''')
+    expected_stdout = tick_box + ' Checking for user \'pihole\''
+    assert expected_stdout in user_create.stdout
+    # situation where only group and no user exists
+    Pihole.run(sudo_cmd.format('userdel -r pihole'))
+    user_create = Pihole.run('''
+    source /opt/pihole/basic-install.sh
+    create_pihole_user
+    ''')
+    expected_stdout = tick_box + ' Creating user \'pihole\''
+    assert expected_stdout in user_create.stdout
+    # situation where only user and no group exists
+    Pihole.run(sudo_cmd.format('userdel -r pihole'))
+    Pihole.run(sudo_cmd.format('groupdel pihole'))
+    Pihole.run(sudo_cmd.format('groupadd pihole_dummy'))
+    useradd_dummy = (
+        'useradd -r --no-user-group -g pihole_dummy ' +
+        '-s /usr/sbin/nologin pihole')
+    Pihole.run(sudo_cmd.format(useradd_dummy))
+    user_create = Pihole.run('''
+    source /opt/pihole/basic-install.sh
+    create_pihole_user
+    ''')
+    expected_stdout = tick_box + ' Creating group \'pihole\''
+    assert expected_stdout in user_create.stdout
+    expected_stdout = tick_box + ' Adding user \'pihole\' to group \'pihole\''
+    assert expected_stdout in user_create.stdout
+
+
 def test_configureFirewall_firewalld_running_no_errors(Pihole):
     '''
     confirms firewalld rules are applied when firewallD is running