diff --git a/nova/compute.sls b/nova/compute.sls
index 831bf3d..24b7bc3 100644
--- a/nova/compute.sls
+++ b/nova/compute.sls
@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@
 
 {%- if compute.user is defined %}
 
+user_nova:
+  user.present:
+  - name: nova
+  - shell: /bin/bash
+
 nova_auth_keys:
   ssh_auth.present:
   - user: nova