diff --git a/lib/pleroma/password/pbkdf2.ex b/lib/pleroma/password/pbkdf2.ex
index 92e9e1952..9c6d2e381 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/password/pbkdf2.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/password/pbkdf2.ex
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def verify_pass(password, hash) do
 
     iterations = String.to_integer(iterations)
 
-    digest = String.to_atom(digest)
+    digest = String.to_existing_atom(digest)
 
     binary_hash =
       KeyGenerator.generate(password, salt, digest: digest, iterations: iterations, length: 64)