diff --git a/libpwdgrp/uidgid_get.c b/libpwdgrp/uidgid_get.c
index 283ac78fc..d76eb8298 100644
--- a/libpwdgrp/uidgid_get.c
+++ b/libpwdgrp/uidgid_get.c
@@ -93,11 +93,7 @@ void FAST_FUNC parse_chown_usergroup_or_die(struct bb_uidgid_t *u, char *user_gr
 	u->uid = u->gid = (gid_t)-1L;
 
 	/* Check if there is a group name */
-	group = strchr(user_group, '.'); /* deprecated? */
-	if (!group)
-		group = strchr(user_group, ':');
-	else
-		*group = ':'; /* replace '.' with ':' */
+	group = strchr(user_group, ':');
 
 	/* Parse "user[:[group]]" */
 	if (!group) { /* "user" */