diff --git a/Userland/chown.cpp b/Userland/chown.cpp
index c925cd46cb4..d2e2411a428 100644
--- a/Userland/chown.cpp
+++ b/Userland/chown.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 #include <AK/String.h>
+#include <grp.h>
+#include <pwd.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
@@ -19,17 +21,27 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
         fprintf(stderr, "Empty uid/gid spec\n");
         return 1;
     }
+
     bool ok;
     new_uid = parts[0].to_uint(ok);
     if (!ok) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "Invalid uid: '%s'\n", parts[0].characters());
-        return 1;
+        new_uid = getpwnam(parts[0].characters())->pw_uid;
+
+        if (!new_uid) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Invalid uid: '%s'\n", parts[0].characters());
+            return 1;
+        }
     }
+
     if (parts.size() == 2) {
         new_gid = parts[1].to_uint(ok);
         if (!ok) {
-            fprintf(stderr, "Invalid gid: '%s'\n", parts[1].characters());
-            return 1;
+            new_gid = getgrnam(parts[1].characters())->gr_gid;
+
+            if(!new_gid) {
+                fprintf(stderr, "Invalid gid: '%s'\n", parts[1].characters());
+                return 1;
+            }
         }
     }