diff --git a/tools/server-update.sh b/tools/server-update.sh
index fe66018..dfb45a6 100755
--- a/tools/server-update.sh
+++ b/tools/server-update.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+if ! [ "$UID" = "0" ]; then
+    echo "please perform as root, attempting to escalate privileges..."
+    exec sudo $(cat /proc/$$/cmdline | sed 's/\x00/ /g')
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 if cd /etc/ixvd/secrets; then
     git pull
     cd -