diff --git a/salt/states/user.py b/salt/states/user.py
index a55a5860ce..8562387c14 100644
--- a/salt/states/user.py
+++ b/salt/states/user.py
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ def _changes(
                 if lusr['uid'] != uid:
                     change['uid'] = uid
             if gid:
-                if lusr['gid'] != gid:
+                if lusr['gid'] not in (gid,
+                                       __salt__['file.group_to_gid'](gid)):
                     change['gid'] = gid
             # remove the default group from the list for
             # comparison purposes