diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 37a4eacb27..06da943c0f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ setup:
 	# use ansible to ansible ansible commander locally
 	ansible-playbook app_setup/setup.yml --verbose -i "127.0.0.1," -c local -e working_dir=`pwd`
 
+adduser:
+	python manage.py createsuperuser
+
 syncdb:
 	# only run from initial setup
 	python manage.py syncdb
diff --git a/SETUP.md b/SETUP.md
index be4a05dbcc..3544b18d61 100644
--- a/SETUP.md
+++ b/SETUP.md
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ This playbook will:
 You may run this setup step again as needed as many times
 as you like.
 
+Before you login, you must also run "make adduser" to create
+a superuser.  This will allow you to login to the app.  There
+is no default user.
+
 Test the server
 ===============
 
diff --git a/app_setup/setup.yml b/app_setup/setup.yml
index 939baba8f2..a97196e028 100644
--- a/app_setup/setup.yml
+++ b/app_setup/setup.yml
@@ -50,9 +50,7 @@
         template: src=templates/local_settings.py.j2 dest=${working_dir}/lib/settings/local_settings.py
 
       - name: sync django database
-        django_manage: >
-          command=syncdb
-          app_path=${working_dir}
+        command: python ${working_dir}/manage.py syncdb --noinput
 
       - name: run south migrations
         command: python ${working_dir}/manage.py migrate main