diff --git a/bootpkg/src/main.rs b/bootpkg/src/main.rs
index ffd4338..65037f3 100644
--- a/bootpkg/src/main.rs
+++ b/bootpkg/src/main.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@ mod args;
 mod prelude;
 
 fn main() {
+    #[cfg(not(debug_assertions))]
+    {
+        if unsafe { libc::getuid() } != 0 {
+            println!("bootpkg must be run as root.");
+            std::process::exit(1);
+        }
+    }
+
     let args = Args::from(env::args().collect::<Vec<String>>()[1..].to_owned());
     match args.command {
         Command::Strap => {