smbpasswd -x fails, when user not in /etc/passwd

[Mathias Wohlfarth]

smbpasswd -x user fails when the user is no longer in /etc/passwd

following error message:
build_sam_account: smbpasswd database is corrupt!  username p88user not in unix passwd database!
Failed to find entry for user p88user.
Failed to modify password entry for user p88user

happens with 2.2.2 on AIX

is it a bug or a feature? - The User should be deleted anyway.
regards Mathias