diff --git a/install_jenkins_slave.sh b/install_jenkins_slave.sh
index a06ae42d37..bb0fa4ab2e 100755
--- a/install_jenkins_slave.sh
+++ b/install_jenkins_slave.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+if [[ $EUID -ne 0 ]]; then
+   echo "This script must be run as root" 1>&2
+   exit 1
+fi
+
 cat > /etc/apt/preferences.d/00-puppet.pref <<EOF
 Package: puppet puppet-common puppetmaster puppetmaster-common
 Pin: version 2.7*