diff --git a/src/passbook.c b/src/passbook.c
index 9f58f152e07f184181b7a86e2c2bef996ec724eb..39589184c4c12ca191f0954261ef1fa9f72b1b3a 100644
--- a/src/passbook.c
+++ b/src/passbook.c
@@ -474,15 +474,16 @@ static int execute(void){
     if (numToks != 2){
       return -1;
     }
+    // when fuzzing (or gathering coverage stats, etc.) don't check master pw
+#ifndef PASSBOOK_FUZZ
     const char * pass = getpass("Enter master password: ");
     if (pass == NULL || strcmp(pass,toks[1]) != 0){
       fprintf(stderr,"Master password incorrect!\n");
-#ifdef PASSBOOK_FUZZ  // actually don't exit but keep going when fuzzing
-      return -1;
-#else
       exit(1); // exit immediately
-#endif
     }
+#else
+    return -1; 
+#endif    
 
   } else if (strcmp(toks[0],INSTRUCTION_LIST) == 0){
     if (numToks != 1){