diff --git a/debian/scripts/koha-create b/debian/scripts/koha-create
index fe8d6d3bf2..03bfb62ba5 100755
--- a/debian/scripts/koha-create
+++ b/debian/scripts/koha-create
@@ -677,7 +677,13 @@ then
     # Set up MySQL database for this instance.
     if [ "$op" = create ]
     then
-        mysql --defaults-extra-file=/etc/mysql/koha-common.cnf <<eof
+        if [ ! -e /etc/mysql/debian.cnf ]; then
+            MYSQL_OPTIONS="-u root"
+            echo "WARNING: The koha-common.cnf file is a dead soft link!"
+        else
+            MYSQL_OPTIONS="--defaults-extra-file=/etc/mysql/koha-common.cnf"
+        fi
+        mysql $MYSQL_OPTIONS <<eof
 CREATE DATABASE \`$mysqldb\`;
 CREATE USER \`$mysqluser\`@'$mysql_hostname' IDENTIFIED BY '$mysqlpwd';
 CREATE USER \`$mysqluser\`@'%' IDENTIFIED BY '$mysqlpwd';