diff --git a/bashup-backup-files.sh b/bashup-backup-files.sh
index 09427ea..e08d6d1 100755
--- a/bashup-backup-files.sh
+++ b/bashup-backup-files.sh
@@ -19,6 +19,12 @@ if [[ -f /usr/local/etc/bashup.cnf ]]; then
   source /usr/local/etc/bashup.cnf
 fi
 
+# require root
+if [ "${EUID}" -ne 0 ]; then
+  echo "This script must be run as root"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 if [ ! -d $backup_storage_dir ]; then
   echo "ERROR: Backup storage dir ($backup_storage_dir) does not exist."
   exit 1
diff --git a/bashup-backup-mysql.sh b/bashup-backup-mysql.sh
index 92ec937..065e8c6 100755
--- a/bashup-backup-mysql.sh
+++ b/bashup-backup-mysql.sh
@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@ if [[ -f /usr/local/etc/bashup.cnf ]]; then
   source /usr/local/etc/bashup.cnf
 fi
 
+# require root
+if [ "${EUID}" -ne 0 ]; then
+  echo "This script must be run as root"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 if [ ! -d $backup_storage_dir ]; then
   echo "ERROR: Backup storage dir ($backup_storage_dir) does not exist."
   exit 1
diff --git a/bashup-backup-pdns.sh b/bashup-backup-pdns.sh
index e7642e1..2fe5842 100755
--- a/bashup-backup-pdns.sh
+++ b/bashup-backup-pdns.sh
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@ if [[ -f /usr/local/etc/bashup.cnf ]]; then
   source /usr/local/etc/bashup.cnf
 fi
 
+# require root
+if [ "${EUID}" -ne 0 ]; then
+  echo "This script must be run as root"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 if [ ! -d $backup_storage_dir ]; then
   echo "ERROR: Backup storage dir ($backup_storage_dir) does not exist."
   exit 1
diff --git a/bashup-list-backups.sh b/bashup-list-backups.sh
index 6a018f0..e8cea65 100755
--- a/bashup-list-backups.sh
+++ b/bashup-list-backups.sh
@@ -14,6 +14,12 @@ if [[ -f /usr/local/etc/bashup.cnf ]]; then
   source /usr/local/etc/bashup.cnf
 fi
 
+# require root
+if [ "${EUID}" -ne 0 ]; then
+  echo "This script must be run as root"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 help()
 {
   thisfilename=$(basename -- "$0")
diff --git a/bashup-restore-files.sh b/bashup-restore-files.sh
index 3c6f899..c16f672 100755
--- a/bashup-restore-files.sh
+++ b/bashup-restore-files.sh
@@ -14,6 +14,12 @@ if [[ -f /usr/local/etc/bashup.cnf ]]; then
   source /usr/local/etc/bashup.cnf
 fi
 
+# require root
+if [ "${EUID}" -ne 0 ]; then
+  echo "This script must be run as root"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 help()
 {
   thisfilename=$(basename -- "$0")
diff --git a/bashup-restore-mysql.sh b/bashup-restore-mysql.sh
index 56641ec..671f342 100755
--- a/bashup-restore-mysql.sh
+++ b/bashup-restore-mysql.sh
@@ -14,6 +14,12 @@ if [[ -f /usr/local/etc/bashup.cnf ]]; then
   source /usr/local/etc/bashup.cnf
 fi
 
+# require root
+if [ "${EUID}" -ne 0 ]; then
+  echo "This script must be run as root"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 help()
 {
   thisfilename=$(basename -- "$0")
diff --git a/bashup-restore-pdns.sh b/bashup-restore-pdns.sh
index ebf32ac..c775b2a 100755
--- a/bashup-restore-pdns.sh
+++ b/bashup-restore-pdns.sh
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@ if [[ -f /usr/local/etc/bashup.cnf ]]; then
   source /usr/local/etc/bashup.cnf
 fi
 
+# require root
+if [ "${EUID}" -ne 0 ]; then
+  echo "This script must be run as root"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 help()
 {
   thisfilename=$(basename -- "$0")