Comment by pdw

But it fits the common Linux implementation of the function... e.g. the Debian manpage says:

> Upon error, crypt_r, crypt_rn, and crypt_ra write an invalid hash to the _output_ field of their _data_ argument, and crypt writes an invalid hash to its static storage area. This string will be shorter than 13 characters, will begin with a ‘*’, and will not compare equal to _setting_.