diff --git a/10.2/docker-entrypoint.sh b/10.2/docker-entrypoint.sh
index 2375375d..d420d79f 100755
--- a/10.2/docker-entrypoint.sh
+++ b/10.2/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -139,9 +139,11 @@ docker_temp_server_start() {
 # Stop the server. When using a local socket file mysqladmin will block until
 # the shutdown is complete.
 docker_temp_server_stop() {
-	if ! mysqladmin --defaults-extra-file=<( _mysql_passfile ) shutdown -uroot --socket="${SOCKET}"; then
+	export MYSQL_PWD=$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD
+	if ! mysqladmin shutdown -uroot --socket="${SOCKET}"; then
 		mysql_error "Unable to shut down server."
 	fi
+	unset MYSQL_PWD
 }
 
 # Verify that the minimally required password settings are set for new databases.
@@ -216,15 +218,32 @@ docker_setup_env() {
 docker_process_sql() {
 	passfileArgs=()
 	if [ '--dont-use-mysql-root-password' = "$1" ]; then
-		passfileArgs+=( "$1" )
 		shift
+		unset MYSQL_PWD
+	else
+		export MYSQL_PWD=$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD
 	fi
+	local count=5
+	while [ $count -gt 0 ] && [ ! -S "${SOCKET}" ]
+	do
+		count=$(( $count - 1 ))
+		mysql_note "Waiting for MariaDB to start, $count more seconds"
+		sleep 1
+	done
 	# args sent in can override this db, since they will be later in the command
 	if [ -n "$MYSQL_DATABASE" ]; then
 		set -- --database="$MYSQL_DATABASE" "$@"
 	fi
 
-	mysql --defaults-extra-file=<( _mysql_passfile "${passfileArgs[@]}") --protocol=socket -uroot -hlocalhost --socket="${SOCKET}" "$@"
+	mysql --protocol=socket -uroot -hlocalhost --socket="${SOCKET}" "$@"
+	unset MYSQL_PWD
+}
+
+# SQL escape the string $1 to be placed in a string literal.
+# escape, \ followed by '
+docker_sql_escape_string_literal() {
+	local escaped=${1//\\/\\\\}
+	echo "${escaped//\'/\\\'}"
 }
 
 # Initializes database with timezone info and root password, plus optional extra db/user
@@ -258,24 +277,29 @@ docker_setup_db() {
 	fi
 	# Sets root password and creates root users for non-localhost hosts
 	local rootCreate=
+	local rootPasswordEscaped=$( docker_sql_escape_string_literal "${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}" )
+
 	# default root to listen for connections from anywhere
 	if [ -n "$MARIADB_ROOT_HOST" ] && [ "$MARIADB_ROOT_HOST" != 'localhost' ]; then
 		# no, we don't care if read finds a terminating character in this heredoc
 		# https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/265149/why-is-set-o-errexit-breaking-this-read-heredoc-expression/265151#265151
 		read -r -d '' rootCreate <<-EOSQL || true
-			CREATE USER 'root'@'${MARIADB_ROOT_HOST}' IDENTIFIED BY '${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}' ;
+			CREATE USER 'root'@'${MARIADB_ROOT_HOST}' IDENTIFIED BY '${rootPasswordEscaped}' ;
 			GRANT ALL ON *.* TO 'root'@'${MARIADB_ROOT_HOST}' WITH GRANT OPTION ;
 		EOSQL
 	fi
 
 	# tell docker_process_sql to not use MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD since it is just now being set
-	docker_process_sql --dont-use-mysql-root-password --database=mysql <<-EOSQL
+	# --binary-mode to save us from the semi-mad users go out of their way to confuse the encoding.
+	docker_process_sql --dont-use-mysql-root-password --database=mysql --binary-mode <<-EOSQL
 		-- What's done in this file shouldn't be replicated
 		--  or products like mysql-fabric won't work
 		SET @@SESSION.SQL_LOG_BIN=0;
+                -- we need the SQL_MODE NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES mode to be clear for the password to be set
+		SET @@SESSION.SQL_MODE=REPLACE(@@SESSION.SQL_MODE, 'NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES', '');
 
 		DELETE FROM mysql.user WHERE user NOT IN ('mysql.sys', 'mariadb.sys', 'mysqlxsys', 'root') OR host NOT IN ('localhost') ;
-		SET PASSWORD FOR 'root'@'localhost'=PASSWORD('${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}') ;
+		SET PASSWORD FOR 'root'@'localhost'=PASSWORD('${rootPasswordEscaped}') ;
 		-- 10.1: https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/d925aec1c10cebf6c34825a7de50afe4e630aff4/scripts/mysql_secure_installation.sh#L347-L365
 		-- 10.5: https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/00c3a28820c67c37ebbca72691f4897b57f2eed5/scripts/mysql_secure_installation.sh#L351-L369
 		DELETE FROM mysql.db WHERE Db='test' OR Db='test\_%' ;
@@ -294,7 +318,12 @@ docker_setup_db() {
 
 	if [ -n "$MARIADB_USER" ] && [ -n "$MARIADB_PASSWORD" ]; then
 		mysql_note "Creating user ${MARIADB_USER}"
-		docker_process_sql --database=mysql <<<"CREATE USER '$MARIADB_USER'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY '$MARIADB_PASSWORD' ;"
+		# SQL escape the user password, \ followed by '
+		local userPasswordEscaped=$( docker_sql_escape_string_literal "${MARIADB_PASSWORD}" )
+		docker_process_sql --database=mysql --binary-mode <<-EOSQL_USER
+			SET @@SESSION.SQL_MODE=REPLACE(@@SESSION.SQL_MODE, 'NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES', '');
+			CREATE USER '$MARIADB_USER'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY '$userPasswordEscaped';
+		EOSQL_USER
 
 		if [ -n "$MARIADB_DATABASE" ]; then
 			mysql_note "Giving user ${MARIADB_USER} access to schema ${MARIADB_DATABASE}"
@@ -303,18 +332,6 @@ docker_setup_db() {
 	fi
 }
 
-_mysql_passfile() {
-	# echo the password to the "file" the client uses
-	# the client command will use process substitution to create a file on the fly
-	# ie: --defaults-extra-file=<( _mysql_passfile )
-	if [ '--dont-use-mysql-root-password' != "$1" ] && [ -n "$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD" ]; then
-		cat <<-EOF
-			[client]
-			password="${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}"
-		EOF
-	fi
-}
-
 # check arguments for an option that would cause mysqld to stop
 # return true if there is one
 _mysql_want_help() {
diff --git a/10.3/docker-entrypoint.sh b/10.3/docker-entrypoint.sh
index 2375375d..d420d79f 100755
--- a/10.3/docker-entrypoint.sh
+++ b/10.3/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -139,9 +139,11 @@ docker_temp_server_start() {
 # Stop the server. When using a local socket file mysqladmin will block until
 # the shutdown is complete.
 docker_temp_server_stop() {
-	if ! mysqladmin --defaults-extra-file=<( _mysql_passfile ) shutdown -uroot --socket="${SOCKET}"; then
+	export MYSQL_PWD=$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD
+	if ! mysqladmin shutdown -uroot --socket="${SOCKET}"; then
 		mysql_error "Unable to shut down server."
 	fi
+	unset MYSQL_PWD
 }
 
 # Verify that the minimally required password settings are set for new databases.
@@ -216,15 +218,32 @@ docker_setup_env() {
 docker_process_sql() {
 	passfileArgs=()
 	if [ '--dont-use-mysql-root-password' = "$1" ]; then
-		passfileArgs+=( "$1" )
 		shift
+		unset MYSQL_PWD
+	else
+		export MYSQL_PWD=$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD
 	fi
+	local count=5
+	while [ $count -gt 0 ] && [ ! -S "${SOCKET}" ]
+	do
+		count=$(( $count - 1 ))
+		mysql_note "Waiting for MariaDB to start, $count more seconds"
+		sleep 1
+	done
 	# args sent in can override this db, since they will be later in the command
 	if [ -n "$MYSQL_DATABASE" ]; then
 		set -- --database="$MYSQL_DATABASE" "$@"
 	fi
 
-	mysql --defaults-extra-file=<( _mysql_passfile "${passfileArgs[@]}") --protocol=socket -uroot -hlocalhost --socket="${SOCKET}" "$@"
+	mysql --protocol=socket -uroot -hlocalhost --socket="${SOCKET}" "$@"
+	unset MYSQL_PWD
+}
+
+# SQL escape the string $1 to be placed in a string literal.
+# escape, \ followed by '
+docker_sql_escape_string_literal() {
+	local escaped=${1//\\/\\\\}
+	echo "${escaped//\'/\\\'}"
 }
 
 # Initializes database with timezone info and root password, plus optional extra db/user
@@ -258,24 +277,29 @@ docker_setup_db() {
 	fi
 	# Sets root password and creates root users for non-localhost hosts
 	local rootCreate=
+	local rootPasswordEscaped=$( docker_sql_escape_string_literal "${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}" )
+
 	# default root to listen for connections from anywhere
 	if [ -n "$MARIADB_ROOT_HOST" ] && [ "$MARIADB_ROOT_HOST" != 'localhost' ]; then
 		# no, we don't care if read finds a terminating character in this heredoc
 		# https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/265149/why-is-set-o-errexit-breaking-this-read-heredoc-expression/265151#265151
 		read -r -d '' rootCreate <<-EOSQL || true
-			CREATE USER 'root'@'${MARIADB_ROOT_HOST}' IDENTIFIED BY '${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}' ;
+			CREATE USER 'root'@'${MARIADB_ROOT_HOST}' IDENTIFIED BY '${rootPasswordEscaped}' ;
 			GRANT ALL ON *.* TO 'root'@'${MARIADB_ROOT_HOST}' WITH GRANT OPTION ;
 		EOSQL
 	fi
 
 	# tell docker_process_sql to not use MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD since it is just now being set
-	docker_process_sql --dont-use-mysql-root-password --database=mysql <<-EOSQL
+	# --binary-mode to save us from the semi-mad users go out of their way to confuse the encoding.
+	docker_process_sql --dont-use-mysql-root-password --database=mysql --binary-mode <<-EOSQL
 		-- What's done in this file shouldn't be replicated
 		--  or products like mysql-fabric won't work
 		SET @@SESSION.SQL_LOG_BIN=0;
+                -- we need the SQL_MODE NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES mode to be clear for the password to be set
+		SET @@SESSION.SQL_MODE=REPLACE(@@SESSION.SQL_MODE, 'NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES', '');
 
 		DELETE FROM mysql.user WHERE user NOT IN ('mysql.sys', 'mariadb.sys', 'mysqlxsys', 'root') OR host NOT IN ('localhost') ;
-		SET PASSWORD FOR 'root'@'localhost'=PASSWORD('${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}') ;
+		SET PASSWORD FOR 'root'@'localhost'=PASSWORD('${rootPasswordEscaped}') ;
 		-- 10.1: https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/d925aec1c10cebf6c34825a7de50afe4e630aff4/scripts/mysql_secure_installation.sh#L347-L365
 		-- 10.5: https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/00c3a28820c67c37ebbca72691f4897b57f2eed5/scripts/mysql_secure_installation.sh#L351-L369
 		DELETE FROM mysql.db WHERE Db='test' OR Db='test\_%' ;
@@ -294,7 +318,12 @@ docker_setup_db() {
 
 	if [ -n "$MARIADB_USER" ] && [ -n "$MARIADB_PASSWORD" ]; then
 		mysql_note "Creating user ${MARIADB_USER}"
-		docker_process_sql --database=mysql <<<"CREATE USER '$MARIADB_USER'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY '$MARIADB_PASSWORD' ;"
+		# SQL escape the user password, \ followed by '
+		local userPasswordEscaped=$( docker_sql_escape_string_literal "${MARIADB_PASSWORD}" )
+		docker_process_sql --database=mysql --binary-mode <<-EOSQL_USER
+			SET @@SESSION.SQL_MODE=REPLACE(@@SESSION.SQL_MODE, 'NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES', '');
+			CREATE USER '$MARIADB_USER'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY '$userPasswordEscaped';
+		EOSQL_USER
 
 		if [ -n "$MARIADB_DATABASE" ]; then
 			mysql_note "Giving user ${MARIADB_USER} access to schema ${MARIADB_DATABASE}"
@@ -303,18 +332,6 @@ docker_setup_db() {
 	fi
 }
 
-_mysql_passfile() {
-	# echo the password to the "file" the client uses
-	# the client command will use process substitution to create a file on the fly
-	# ie: --defaults-extra-file=<( _mysql_passfile )
-	if [ '--dont-use-mysql-root-password' != "$1" ] && [ -n "$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD" ]; then
-		cat <<-EOF
-			[client]
-			password="${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}"
-		EOF
-	fi
-}
-
 # check arguments for an option that would cause mysqld to stop
 # return true if there is one
 _mysql_want_help() {
diff --git a/10.4/docker-entrypoint.sh b/10.4/docker-entrypoint.sh
index 2375375d..d420d79f 100755
--- a/10.4/docker-entrypoint.sh
+++ b/10.4/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -139,9 +139,11 @@ docker_temp_server_start() {
 # Stop the server. When using a local socket file mysqladmin will block until
 # the shutdown is complete.
 docker_temp_server_stop() {
-	if ! mysqladmin --defaults-extra-file=<( _mysql_passfile ) shutdown -uroot --socket="${SOCKET}"; then
+	export MYSQL_PWD=$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD
+	if ! mysqladmin shutdown -uroot --socket="${SOCKET}"; then
 		mysql_error "Unable to shut down server."
 	fi
+	unset MYSQL_PWD
 }
 
 # Verify that the minimally required password settings are set for new databases.
@@ -216,15 +218,32 @@ docker_setup_env() {
 docker_process_sql() {
 	passfileArgs=()
 	if [ '--dont-use-mysql-root-password' = "$1" ]; then
-		passfileArgs+=( "$1" )
 		shift
+		unset MYSQL_PWD
+	else
+		export MYSQL_PWD=$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD
 	fi
+	local count=5
+	while [ $count -gt 0 ] && [ ! -S "${SOCKET}" ]
+	do
+		count=$(( $count - 1 ))
+		mysql_note "Waiting for MariaDB to start, $count more seconds"
+		sleep 1
+	done
 	# args sent in can override this db, since they will be later in the command
 	if [ -n "$MYSQL_DATABASE" ]; then
 		set -- --database="$MYSQL_DATABASE" "$@"
 	fi
 
-	mysql --defaults-extra-file=<( _mysql_passfile "${passfileArgs[@]}") --protocol=socket -uroot -hlocalhost --socket="${SOCKET}" "$@"
+	mysql --protocol=socket -uroot -hlocalhost --socket="${SOCKET}" "$@"
+	unset MYSQL_PWD
+}
+
+# SQL escape the string $1 to be placed in a string literal.
+# escape, \ followed by '
+docker_sql_escape_string_literal() {
+	local escaped=${1//\\/\\\\}
+	echo "${escaped//\'/\\\'}"
 }
 
 # Initializes database with timezone info and root password, plus optional extra db/user
@@ -258,24 +277,29 @@ docker_setup_db() {
 	fi
 	# Sets root password and creates root users for non-localhost hosts
 	local rootCreate=
+	local rootPasswordEscaped=$( docker_sql_escape_string_literal "${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}" )
+
 	# default root to listen for connections from anywhere
 	if [ -n "$MARIADB_ROOT_HOST" ] && [ "$MARIADB_ROOT_HOST" != 'localhost' ]; then
 		# no, we don't care if read finds a terminating character in this heredoc
 		# https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/265149/why-is-set-o-errexit-breaking-this-read-heredoc-expression/265151#265151
 		read -r -d '' rootCreate <<-EOSQL || true
-			CREATE USER 'root'@'${MARIADB_ROOT_HOST}' IDENTIFIED BY '${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}' ;
+			CREATE USER 'root'@'${MARIADB_ROOT_HOST}' IDENTIFIED BY '${rootPasswordEscaped}' ;
 			GRANT ALL ON *.* TO 'root'@'${MARIADB_ROOT_HOST}' WITH GRANT OPTION ;
 		EOSQL
 	fi
 
 	# tell docker_process_sql to not use MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD since it is just now being set
-	docker_process_sql --dont-use-mysql-root-password --database=mysql <<-EOSQL
+	# --binary-mode to save us from the semi-mad users go out of their way to confuse the encoding.
+	docker_process_sql --dont-use-mysql-root-password --database=mysql --binary-mode <<-EOSQL
 		-- What's done in this file shouldn't be replicated
 		--  or products like mysql-fabric won't work
 		SET @@SESSION.SQL_LOG_BIN=0;
+                -- we need the SQL_MODE NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES mode to be clear for the password to be set
+		SET @@SESSION.SQL_MODE=REPLACE(@@SESSION.SQL_MODE, 'NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES', '');
 
 		DELETE FROM mysql.user WHERE user NOT IN ('mysql.sys', 'mariadb.sys', 'mysqlxsys', 'root') OR host NOT IN ('localhost') ;
-		SET PASSWORD FOR 'root'@'localhost'=PASSWORD('${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}') ;
+		SET PASSWORD FOR 'root'@'localhost'=PASSWORD('${rootPasswordEscaped}') ;
 		-- 10.1: https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/d925aec1c10cebf6c34825a7de50afe4e630aff4/scripts/mysql_secure_installation.sh#L347-L365
 		-- 10.5: https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/00c3a28820c67c37ebbca72691f4897b57f2eed5/scripts/mysql_secure_installation.sh#L351-L369
 		DELETE FROM mysql.db WHERE Db='test' OR Db='test\_%' ;
@@ -294,7 +318,12 @@ docker_setup_db() {
 
 	if [ -n "$MARIADB_USER" ] && [ -n "$MARIADB_PASSWORD" ]; then
 		mysql_note "Creating user ${MARIADB_USER}"
-		docker_process_sql --database=mysql <<<"CREATE USER '$MARIADB_USER'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY '$MARIADB_PASSWORD' ;"
+		# SQL escape the user password, \ followed by '
+		local userPasswordEscaped=$( docker_sql_escape_string_literal "${MARIADB_PASSWORD}" )
+		docker_process_sql --database=mysql --binary-mode <<-EOSQL_USER
+			SET @@SESSION.SQL_MODE=REPLACE(@@SESSION.SQL_MODE, 'NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES', '');
+			CREATE USER '$MARIADB_USER'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY '$userPasswordEscaped';
+		EOSQL_USER
 
 		if [ -n "$MARIADB_DATABASE" ]; then
 			mysql_note "Giving user ${MARIADB_USER} access to schema ${MARIADB_DATABASE}"
@@ -303,18 +332,6 @@ docker_setup_db() {
 	fi
 }
 
-_mysql_passfile() {
-	# echo the password to the "file" the client uses
-	# the client command will use process substitution to create a file on the fly
-	# ie: --defaults-extra-file=<( _mysql_passfile )
-	if [ '--dont-use-mysql-root-password' != "$1" ] && [ -n "$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD" ]; then
-		cat <<-EOF
-			[client]
-			password="${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}"
-		EOF
-	fi
-}
-
 # check arguments for an option that would cause mysqld to stop
 # return true if there is one
 _mysql_want_help() {
diff --git a/10.5/docker-entrypoint.sh b/10.5/docker-entrypoint.sh
index 2375375d..d420d79f 100755
--- a/10.5/docker-entrypoint.sh
+++ b/10.5/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -139,9 +139,11 @@ docker_temp_server_start() {
 # Stop the server. When using a local socket file mysqladmin will block until
 # the shutdown is complete.
 docker_temp_server_stop() {
-	if ! mysqladmin --defaults-extra-file=<( _mysql_passfile ) shutdown -uroot --socket="${SOCKET}"; then
+	export MYSQL_PWD=$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD
+	if ! mysqladmin shutdown -uroot --socket="${SOCKET}"; then
 		mysql_error "Unable to shut down server."
 	fi
+	unset MYSQL_PWD
 }
 
 # Verify that the minimally required password settings are set for new databases.
@@ -216,15 +218,32 @@ docker_setup_env() {
 docker_process_sql() {
 	passfileArgs=()
 	if [ '--dont-use-mysql-root-password' = "$1" ]; then
-		passfileArgs+=( "$1" )
 		shift
+		unset MYSQL_PWD
+	else
+		export MYSQL_PWD=$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD
 	fi
+	local count=5
+	while [ $count -gt 0 ] && [ ! -S "${SOCKET}" ]
+	do
+		count=$(( $count - 1 ))
+		mysql_note "Waiting for MariaDB to start, $count more seconds"
+		sleep 1
+	done
 	# args sent in can override this db, since they will be later in the command
 	if [ -n "$MYSQL_DATABASE" ]; then
 		set -- --database="$MYSQL_DATABASE" "$@"
 	fi
 
-	mysql --defaults-extra-file=<( _mysql_passfile "${passfileArgs[@]}") --protocol=socket -uroot -hlocalhost --socket="${SOCKET}" "$@"
+	mysql --protocol=socket -uroot -hlocalhost --socket="${SOCKET}" "$@"
+	unset MYSQL_PWD
+}
+
+# SQL escape the string $1 to be placed in a string literal.
+# escape, \ followed by '
+docker_sql_escape_string_literal() {
+	local escaped=${1//\\/\\\\}
+	echo "${escaped//\'/\\\'}"
 }
 
 # Initializes database with timezone info and root password, plus optional extra db/user
@@ -258,24 +277,29 @@ docker_setup_db() {
 	fi
 	# Sets root password and creates root users for non-localhost hosts
 	local rootCreate=
+	local rootPasswordEscaped=$( docker_sql_escape_string_literal "${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}" )
+
 	# default root to listen for connections from anywhere
 	if [ -n "$MARIADB_ROOT_HOST" ] && [ "$MARIADB_ROOT_HOST" != 'localhost' ]; then
 		# no, we don't care if read finds a terminating character in this heredoc
 		# https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/265149/why-is-set-o-errexit-breaking-this-read-heredoc-expression/265151#265151
 		read -r -d '' rootCreate <<-EOSQL || true
-			CREATE USER 'root'@'${MARIADB_ROOT_HOST}' IDENTIFIED BY '${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}' ;
+			CREATE USER 'root'@'${MARIADB_ROOT_HOST}' IDENTIFIED BY '${rootPasswordEscaped}' ;
 			GRANT ALL ON *.* TO 'root'@'${MARIADB_ROOT_HOST}' WITH GRANT OPTION ;
 		EOSQL
 	fi
 
 	# tell docker_process_sql to not use MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD since it is just now being set
-	docker_process_sql --dont-use-mysql-root-password --database=mysql <<-EOSQL
+	# --binary-mode to save us from the semi-mad users go out of their way to confuse the encoding.
+	docker_process_sql --dont-use-mysql-root-password --database=mysql --binary-mode <<-EOSQL
 		-- What's done in this file shouldn't be replicated
 		--  or products like mysql-fabric won't work
 		SET @@SESSION.SQL_LOG_BIN=0;
+                -- we need the SQL_MODE NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES mode to be clear for the password to be set
+		SET @@SESSION.SQL_MODE=REPLACE(@@SESSION.SQL_MODE, 'NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES', '');
 
 		DELETE FROM mysql.user WHERE user NOT IN ('mysql.sys', 'mariadb.sys', 'mysqlxsys', 'root') OR host NOT IN ('localhost') ;
-		SET PASSWORD FOR 'root'@'localhost'=PASSWORD('${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}') ;
+		SET PASSWORD FOR 'root'@'localhost'=PASSWORD('${rootPasswordEscaped}') ;
 		-- 10.1: https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/d925aec1c10cebf6c34825a7de50afe4e630aff4/scripts/mysql_secure_installation.sh#L347-L365
 		-- 10.5: https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/00c3a28820c67c37ebbca72691f4897b57f2eed5/scripts/mysql_secure_installation.sh#L351-L369
 		DELETE FROM mysql.db WHERE Db='test' OR Db='test\_%' ;
@@ -294,7 +318,12 @@ docker_setup_db() {
 
 	if [ -n "$MARIADB_USER" ] && [ -n "$MARIADB_PASSWORD" ]; then
 		mysql_note "Creating user ${MARIADB_USER}"
-		docker_process_sql --database=mysql <<<"CREATE USER '$MARIADB_USER'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY '$MARIADB_PASSWORD' ;"
+		# SQL escape the user password, \ followed by '
+		local userPasswordEscaped=$( docker_sql_escape_string_literal "${MARIADB_PASSWORD}" )
+		docker_process_sql --database=mysql --binary-mode <<-EOSQL_USER
+			SET @@SESSION.SQL_MODE=REPLACE(@@SESSION.SQL_MODE, 'NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES', '');
+			CREATE USER '$MARIADB_USER'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY '$userPasswordEscaped';
+		EOSQL_USER
 
 		if [ -n "$MARIADB_DATABASE" ]; then
 			mysql_note "Giving user ${MARIADB_USER} access to schema ${MARIADB_DATABASE}"
@@ -303,18 +332,6 @@ docker_setup_db() {
 	fi
 }
 
-_mysql_passfile() {
-	# echo the password to the "file" the client uses
-	# the client command will use process substitution to create a file on the fly
-	# ie: --defaults-extra-file=<( _mysql_passfile )
-	if [ '--dont-use-mysql-root-password' != "$1" ] && [ -n "$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD" ]; then
-		cat <<-EOF
-			[client]
-			password="${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}"
-		EOF
-	fi
-}
-
 # check arguments for an option that would cause mysqld to stop
 # return true if there is one
 _mysql_want_help() {
diff --git a/docker-entrypoint.sh b/docker-entrypoint.sh
index 2375375d..d420d79f 100755
--- a/docker-entrypoint.sh
+++ b/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -139,9 +139,11 @@ docker_temp_server_start() {
 # Stop the server. When using a local socket file mysqladmin will block until
 # the shutdown is complete.
 docker_temp_server_stop() {
-	if ! mysqladmin --defaults-extra-file=<( _mysql_passfile ) shutdown -uroot --socket="${SOCKET}"; then
+	export MYSQL_PWD=$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD
+	if ! mysqladmin shutdown -uroot --socket="${SOCKET}"; then
 		mysql_error "Unable to shut down server."
 	fi
+	unset MYSQL_PWD
 }
 
 # Verify that the minimally required password settings are set for new databases.
@@ -216,15 +218,32 @@ docker_setup_env() {
 docker_process_sql() {
 	passfileArgs=()
 	if [ '--dont-use-mysql-root-password' = "$1" ]; then
-		passfileArgs+=( "$1" )
 		shift
+		unset MYSQL_PWD
+	else
+		export MYSQL_PWD=$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD
 	fi
+	local count=5
+	while [ $count -gt 0 ] && [ ! -S "${SOCKET}" ]
+	do
+		count=$(( $count - 1 ))
+		mysql_note "Waiting for MariaDB to start, $count more seconds"
+		sleep 1
+	done
 	# args sent in can override this db, since they will be later in the command
 	if [ -n "$MYSQL_DATABASE" ]; then
 		set -- --database="$MYSQL_DATABASE" "$@"
 	fi
 
-	mysql --defaults-extra-file=<( _mysql_passfile "${passfileArgs[@]}") --protocol=socket -uroot -hlocalhost --socket="${SOCKET}" "$@"
+	mysql --protocol=socket -uroot -hlocalhost --socket="${SOCKET}" "$@"
+	unset MYSQL_PWD
+}
+
+# SQL escape the string $1 to be placed in a string literal.
+# escape, \ followed by '
+docker_sql_escape_string_literal() {
+	local escaped=${1//\\/\\\\}
+	echo "${escaped//\'/\\\'}"
 }
 
 # Initializes database with timezone info and root password, plus optional extra db/user
@@ -258,24 +277,29 @@ docker_setup_db() {
 	fi
 	# Sets root password and creates root users for non-localhost hosts
 	local rootCreate=
+	local rootPasswordEscaped=$( docker_sql_escape_string_literal "${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}" )
+
 	# default root to listen for connections from anywhere
 	if [ -n "$MARIADB_ROOT_HOST" ] && [ "$MARIADB_ROOT_HOST" != 'localhost' ]; then
 		# no, we don't care if read finds a terminating character in this heredoc
 		# https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/265149/why-is-set-o-errexit-breaking-this-read-heredoc-expression/265151#265151
 		read -r -d '' rootCreate <<-EOSQL || true
-			CREATE USER 'root'@'${MARIADB_ROOT_HOST}' IDENTIFIED BY '${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}' ;
+			CREATE USER 'root'@'${MARIADB_ROOT_HOST}' IDENTIFIED BY '${rootPasswordEscaped}' ;
 			GRANT ALL ON *.* TO 'root'@'${MARIADB_ROOT_HOST}' WITH GRANT OPTION ;
 		EOSQL
 	fi
 
 	# tell docker_process_sql to not use MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD since it is just now being set
-	docker_process_sql --dont-use-mysql-root-password --database=mysql <<-EOSQL
+	# --binary-mode to save us from the semi-mad users go out of their way to confuse the encoding.
+	docker_process_sql --dont-use-mysql-root-password --database=mysql --binary-mode <<-EOSQL
 		-- What's done in this file shouldn't be replicated
 		--  or products like mysql-fabric won't work
 		SET @@SESSION.SQL_LOG_BIN=0;
+                -- we need the SQL_MODE NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES mode to be clear for the password to be set
+		SET @@SESSION.SQL_MODE=REPLACE(@@SESSION.SQL_MODE, 'NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES', '');
 
 		DELETE FROM mysql.user WHERE user NOT IN ('mysql.sys', 'mariadb.sys', 'mysqlxsys', 'root') OR host NOT IN ('localhost') ;
-		SET PASSWORD FOR 'root'@'localhost'=PASSWORD('${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}') ;
+		SET PASSWORD FOR 'root'@'localhost'=PASSWORD('${rootPasswordEscaped}') ;
 		-- 10.1: https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/d925aec1c10cebf6c34825a7de50afe4e630aff4/scripts/mysql_secure_installation.sh#L347-L365
 		-- 10.5: https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/00c3a28820c67c37ebbca72691f4897b57f2eed5/scripts/mysql_secure_installation.sh#L351-L369
 		DELETE FROM mysql.db WHERE Db='test' OR Db='test\_%' ;
@@ -294,7 +318,12 @@ docker_setup_db() {
 
 	if [ -n "$MARIADB_USER" ] && [ -n "$MARIADB_PASSWORD" ]; then
 		mysql_note "Creating user ${MARIADB_USER}"
-		docker_process_sql --database=mysql <<<"CREATE USER '$MARIADB_USER'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY '$MARIADB_PASSWORD' ;"
+		# SQL escape the user password, \ followed by '
+		local userPasswordEscaped=$( docker_sql_escape_string_literal "${MARIADB_PASSWORD}" )
+		docker_process_sql --database=mysql --binary-mode <<-EOSQL_USER
+			SET @@SESSION.SQL_MODE=REPLACE(@@SESSION.SQL_MODE, 'NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES', '');
+			CREATE USER '$MARIADB_USER'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY '$userPasswordEscaped';
+		EOSQL_USER
 
 		if [ -n "$MARIADB_DATABASE" ]; then
 			mysql_note "Giving user ${MARIADB_USER} access to schema ${MARIADB_DATABASE}"
@@ -303,18 +332,6 @@ docker_setup_db() {
 	fi
 }
 
-_mysql_passfile() {
-	# echo the password to the "file" the client uses
-	# the client command will use process substitution to create a file on the fly
-	# ie: --defaults-extra-file=<( _mysql_passfile )
-	if [ '--dont-use-mysql-root-password' != "$1" ] && [ -n "$MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD" ]; then
-		cat <<-EOF
-			[client]
-			password="${MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD}"
-		EOF
-	fi
-}
-
 # check arguments for an option that would cause mysqld to stop
 # return true if there is one
 _mysql_want_help() {