diff --git a/src/downfile.c b/src/downfile.c
index e499d8a..c3383df 100644
--- a/src/downfile.c
+++ b/src/downfile.c
@@ -79,6 +79,11 @@ void download_file()
     static struct ev_signal sw;
     struct ev_io ior;
 
+    if (getuid() > 0) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "Operation not permitted, must be run as root\n");
+        return;
+    }
+
     if (!realpath(".", abspath))
         return;
 
diff --git a/src/upfile.c b/src/upfile.c
index ddb45c4..cb8719a 100644
--- a/src/upfile.c
+++ b/src/upfile.c
@@ -73,6 +73,11 @@ void upload_file(const char *path)
     struct stat st;
     int fd;
 
+    if (getuid() > 0) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "Operation not permitted, must be run as root\n");
+        return;
+    }
+
     fd = open(path, O_RDONLY);
     if (fd < 0) {
         fprintf(stderr, "open '%s' failed: ", path);