When using "su - username" to change users, zsh is not properly setting the LOGNAME environment variable on FreeBSD. Example below. erik@virtubsd:~% zsh --version zsh 5.0.2 (amd64-portbld-freebsd9.1) erik@virtubsd:~% su - root Password: virtubsd# echo $LOGNAME erik virtubsd# cat .zshrc cat: .zshrc: No such file or directory virtubsd# logout erik@virtubsd:~% sudo chpass -s /bin/csh root Password: chpass: user information updated erik@virtubsd:~% su - root Password: virtubsd# echo $LOGNAME root virtubsd# logout -- -Erik "For me, it is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring." --Carl Sagan