mysql "forgets" user passwords

[Chris Fonnesbeck]

I have mysql 4.1.12 installed on OSX 10.4, and have run into the
curious problem that mysql forgets my user password (but not my root
password) when I restart the server. When I attempt to log in, I get:

ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'chris'@'localhost' (using
password: YES)

Yet, when I go in as root and re-grant permissions with the user
password, access is restored. When I reboot, I get the error again.
What could possibly be causing this?

Thanks,
Chris Fonnesbeck