diff --git a/util-linux/mdev.c b/util-linux/mdev.c
index 2f225ac..7cabb1d 100644
--- a/util-linux/mdev.c
+++ b/util-linux/mdev.c
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@
 			 * the rest the line unless keep_matching == 1 */
 
 			/* 2nd field: uid:gid - device ownership */
-			if (get_uidgid(&ugid, tokens[1], 1) == 0)
+			if (get_uidgid(&ugid, tokens[1], /*allow_numeric:*/ 1) == 0)
 				bb_error_msg("unknown user/group %s on line %d", tokens[1], parser->lineno);
 
 			/* 3rd field: mode - device permissions */