diff --git a/src/ejabberd_piefxis.erl b/src/ejabberd_piefxis.erl
index 58b15a166..d9b93bf1a 100644
--- a/src/ejabberd_piefxis.erl
+++ b/src/ejabberd_piefxis.erl
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ process_element(El,State) ->
 
 add_user(El, Domain) ->
     User = exmpp_xml:get_attribute(El,<<"name">>,none),
-    PasswordFormat = exmpp_xml:get_attribute(El,<<"password-format">>,none),
+    PasswordFormat = exmpp_xml:get_attribute(El,<<"password-format">>,<<"plaintext">>),
     Password = exmpp_xml:get_attribute(El,<<"password">>,none),
     add_user(El, Domain, User, PasswordFormat, Password).