diff -up expect5.45/example/mkpasswd.orig expect5.45/example/mkpasswd
--- expect5.45/example/mkpasswd.orig	2011-03-16 13:23:23.125480017 +0100
+++ expect5.45/example/mkpasswd	2011-03-16 13:24:08.739353139 +0100
@@ -202,7 +202,8 @@ if {[info exists user]} {
 	expect {
 		"assword*:" {
 			# some systems say "Password (again):"
-			send "$password\r"
+			send -- "$password\r"
+			# "--" because of passwords beginning with dash
 			exp_continue
 		}
 	}