--- /etc/init.d/spamd.orig	2013-01-31 17:25:29.986065797 +0100
+++ /etc/init.d/spamd.orig	2013-01-31 17:25:35.585797530 +0100
@@ -18,6 +18,16 @@ 
 
 start() {
 	ebegin "Starting spamd"
+
+	# get user and create PID_DIR if necessary
+	[[ $SPAMD_OPTS =~ \-u( |)([^\ ]*)  ]] && USER=${BASH_REMATCH[2]}
+	PID_DIR="$(dirname "$PIDFILE")"
+	if [ -n "$USER" ] ;then
+		[ ! -e "$PID_DIR" ] && checkpath -q -d "$PID_DIR" -o $USER:$USER 
+	else
+		[ ! -e "$PID_DIR" ] && checkpath -q -d "$PID_DIR"
+	fi
+
 	start-stop-daemon --start --quiet \
 		--name spamd \
 		--nicelevel ${SPAMD_NICELEVEL:-0} \