diff --git a/build/workspaces/update-workspaces.sh b/build/workspaces/update-workspaces.sh
index d5af21e33f..8e22d1f4e0 100644
--- a/build/workspaces/update-workspaces.sh
+++ b/build/workspaces/update-workspaces.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+if [ "$(id -u)" == "0" ]; then
+   echo "Running as root will mess up file permissions. Aborting ..." 1>&2
+   exit 1
+fi
+
 die()
 {
   echo ERROR: $*