diff --git a/seafileBackup/seafbackup.sh b/seafileBackup/seafbackup.sh
index 05fdb84..7d045f1 100755
--- a/seafileBackup/seafbackup.sh
+++ b/seafileBackup/seafbackup.sh
@@ -388,6 +388,11 @@ done
 
 
 ### check pre-requisites and default values
+# check if running as root, otherwise exit
+if [ $( id -u ) -ne 0 ]; then
+    printf "\n${err}ERROR: script MUST be run as ROOT${norm}\n\n"
+    exit 2
+fi
 # does the details file exist?
 if [ ! -f "$configDetails" ]; then
     badParam dne "(--details default)" "$configDetails"