diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 164c7948..04806dc4 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -87,4 +87,5 @@ install: all
 .PHONY: all install clean
 
 %.1: %.md
+	@if [ "$$UID" = 0 ]; then echo "Please build as non-root before running \`make install\` as root" >&2;exit 1;fi
 	pandoc --standalone --to man $< -o $@