diff --git a/fragments/main.sh b/fragments/main.sh
index dfba2c9..08406ca 100644
--- a/fragments/main.sh
+++ b/fragments/main.sh
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@
     ;;
 esac
 
+# MARK: check for root
+    if [ "$(whoami)" != "root" ]; then
+        # not running as root
+        cleanupAndExit 6 "not running as root, exiting"
 
 # MARK: application download and installation starts here