diff --git a/package/netsnmp/S59snmpd b/package/netsnmp/S59snmpd
index 96ed8237ac..aece896670 100644
--- a/package/netsnmp/S59snmpd
+++ b/package/netsnmp/S59snmpd
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export PATH=/sbin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/usr/bin
 # Defaults
 export MIBDIRS=/usr/share/snmp/mibs
 SNMPDRUN=yes
-SNMPDOPTS='-Lsd -Lf /dev/null -p /var/run/snmpd.pid 127.0.0.1'
+SNMPDOPTS='-Lsd -Lf /dev/null -p /var/run/snmpd.pid -u snmp -g snmp 127.0.0.1'
 TRAPDRUN=no
 TRAPDOPTS='-Lsd -p /var/run/snmptrapd.pid'
 
diff --git a/package/netsnmp/netsnmp.mk b/package/netsnmp/netsnmp.mk
index 0218e65b91..c7df49f947 100644
--- a/package/netsnmp/netsnmp.mk
+++ b/package/netsnmp/netsnmp.mk
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ NETSNMP_INSTALL_TARGET_OPTS = DESTDIR=$(TARGET_DIR) LIB_LDCONFIG_CMD=true instal
 NETSNMP_MAKE = $(MAKE1)
 NETSNMP_CONFIG_SCRIPTS = net-snmp-config
 
+define NETSNMP_USERS
+	snmp -1 snmp -1 * - - - snmpd user
+endef
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_INIT_SYSTEMD),y)
 NETSNMP_CONF_OPTS += --with-systemd
 else
diff --git a/package/netsnmp/snmpd.service b/package/netsnmp/snmpd.service
index 2a1e6e9715..6647b10c32 100644
--- a/package/netsnmp/snmpd.service
+++ b/package/netsnmp/snmpd.service
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ ConditionPathExists=/etc/snmp/snmpd.conf
 [Service]
 Type=simple
 Environment=MIBDIRS=/usr/share/snmp/mibs
-Environment=SNMPDOPTS='-Lsd -Lf /dev/null -p /var/run/snmpd.pid 127.0.0.1'
+Environment=SNMPDOPTS='-Lsd -Lf /dev/null -p /var/run/snmpd.pid -u snmp -g snmp 127.0.0.1'
 EnvironmentFile=-/etc/default/snmpd
 PassEnvironment=MIBDIRS
 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/snmpd -f $SNMPDOPTS