diff --git a/modules/pam_unix/pam_unix_passwd.c b/modules/pam_unix/pam_unix_passwd.c
index 0cfc0f4..2239206 100644
--- a/modules/pam_unix/pam_unix_passwd.c
+++ b/modules/pam_unix/pam_unix_passwd.c
@@ -796,6 +796,29 @@ pam_sm_chauthtok(pam_handle_t *pamh, int flags, int argc, const char **argv)
 		 * rebuild the password database file.
 		 */
 
+
+		/* if it is a NIS account, check for special hash algo */
+		if (on(UNIX_NIS, ctrl) && _unix_comesfromsource(pamh, user, 0, 1)) {
+		  /* preset encryption method with value from /etc/login.defs */
+		  int j;
+		  char *val = _unix_search_key ("ENCRYPT_METHOD_NIS", LOGIN_DEFS);
+		  if (val) {
+		    for (j = 0; j < UNIX_CTRLS_; ++j) {
+		      if (unix_args[j].token && unix_args[j].is_hash_algo
+			  && !strncasecmp(val, unix_args[j].token, strlen(unix_args[j].token))) {
+			break;
+		      }
+		    }
+		    if (j >= UNIX_CTRLS_) {
+		      pam_syslog(pamh, LOG_WARNING, "unrecognized ENCRYPT_METHOD_NIS value [%s]", val);
+		    } else {
+		      ctrl &= unix_args[j].mask;  /* for turning things off */
+		      ctrl |= unix_args[j].flag;  /* for turning things on  */
+		    }
+		    free (val);
+		  }
+		}
+
 		/*
 		 * First we encrypt the new password.
 		 */
diff --git a/modules/pam_unix/support.c b/modules/pam_unix/support.c
index 19d72e6..dafa9f0 100644
--- a/modules/pam_unix/support.c
+++ b/modules/pam_unix/support.c
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@
 #define SELINUX_ENABLED 0
 #endif
 
-static char *
-search_key (const char *key, const char *filename)
+char *
+_unix_search_key (const char *key, const char *filename)
 {
   FILE *fp;
   char *buf = NULL;
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ int _set_ctrl(pam_handle_t *pamh, int flags, int *remember, int *rounds,
 	}
 
 	/* preset encryption method with value from /etc/login.defs */
-	val = search_key ("ENCRYPT_METHOD", LOGIN_DEFS);
+	val = _unix_search_key ("ENCRYPT_METHOD", LOGIN_DEFS);
 	if (val) {
 	  for (j = 0; j < UNIX_CTRLS_; ++j) {
 	    if (unix_args[j].token && unix_args[j].is_hash_algo
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ int _set_ctrl(pam_handle_t *pamh, int flags, int *remember, int *rounds,
 
 	  /* read number of rounds for crypt algo */
 	  if (rounds && (on(UNIX_SHA256_PASS, ctrl) || on(UNIX_SHA512_PASS, ctrl))) {
-	    val=search_key ("SHA_CRYPT_MAX_ROUNDS", LOGIN_DEFS);
+	    val=_unix_search_key ("SHA_CRYPT_MAX_ROUNDS", LOGIN_DEFS);
 
 	    if (val) {
 	      *rounds = strtol(val, NULL, 10);
diff --git a/modules/pam_unix/support.h b/modules/pam_unix/support.h
index 6f5b2eb..a35a8a8 100644
--- a/modules/pam_unix/support.h
+++ b/modules/pam_unix/support.h
@@ -174,4 +174,5 @@ extern int _unix_read_password(pam_handle_t * pamh
 
 extern int _unix_run_verify_binary(pam_handle_t *pamh,
 			unsigned int ctrl, const char *user, int *daysleft);
+extern char *_unix_search_key(const char *key, const char *filename);
 #endif /* _PAM_UNIX_SUPPORT_H */