diff --git a/impfilesbk b/impfilesbk
index 4813cec..b1eb0f2 100644
--- a/impfilesbk
+++ b/impfilesbk
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 
 # This script backs up some important stuff
 
+# force script to run as specific user
+if [ "$(id -u)" -eq 0 ]; then
+    exec sudo -H -u sintan $0 "$@"
+fi
+
 # Run only one instance of this script at one time
 [ "${BKLOCKER}" != "running" ] && exec env BKLOCKER="running" flock -en "/tmp/impfilesbk.lock" "$0" "$@" || :
 
diff --git a/impfilesbk_server b/impfilesbk_server
index 1b3929a..6456a9e 100644
--- a/impfilesbk_server
+++ b/impfilesbk_server
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@
 # This script backs up some important stuff
 # This is the version for my home server
 
+# force script to run as specific user
+if [ "$(id -u)" -eq 0 ]; then
+    exec sudo -H -u sintan $0 "$@"
+fi
+
 # Run only one instance of this script at one time
 [ "${BKLOCKER}" != "running" ] && exec env BKLOCKER="running" flock -en "/tmp/impfilesbk.lock" "$0" "$@" || :
 
diff --git a/makepkglist b/makepkglist
index c5fac1d..5e8052b 100644
--- a/makepkglist
+++ b/makepkglist
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@
 # this script lists all packages installed in my system and saves them
 # such that it's easy to install packages in case of a system reset
 
+# force script to run as specific user
+if [ "$(id -u)" -eq 0 ]; then
+    exec sudo -H -u sintan $0 "$@"
+fi
+
 # define location for output
 DIR=/home/sintan/Documents/Backup/pkglists
 
diff --git a/makepkglist_server b/makepkglist_server
index 368a4d4..4ac53e4 100644
--- a/makepkglist_server
+++ b/makepkglist_server
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@
 
 # this is the server version
 
+# force script to run as specific user
+if [ "$(id -u)" -eq 0 ]; then
+    exec sudo -H -u sintan $0 "$@"
+fi
+
 # define location for output
 DIR=/mnt/storage/Documents/Backup/pkglists_server