diff --git a/update-setup.sh b/update-setup.sh
index 010585e..15fa6d5 100644
--- a/update-setup.sh
+++ b/update-setup.sh
@@ -494,6 +494,17 @@ EOL
             fi
         fi
         
+        # Strip the "Digest: " prefix if present
+        password_hash=$(echo "$password_hash" | sed 's/^Digest: //')
+        
+        # Verify hash format
+        if [[ ! "$password_hash" =~ ^\$argon2id.*$ ]]; then
+            echo -e "${RED}Error: Generated hash does not have the expected format. Actual value:${NC}"
+            echo -e "${YELLOW}$password_hash${NC}"
+            echo -e "${RED}Skipping user creation.${NC}"
+            continue
+        fi
+        
         echo -e "${GREEN}Password hash generated successfully.${NC}"
         
         # Check if user already exists in the file and update