diff --git a/internal/bootstrap/app.go b/internal/bootstrap/app.go
index 170b9224..7beb3185 100644
--- a/internal/bootstrap/app.go
+++ b/internal/bootstrap/app.go
@@ -1,10 +1,15 @@
 package bootstrap
 
 import (
+	"os"
 	"runtime/debug"
 )
 
 func boot() {
+	if os.Geteuid() != 0 {
+		panic("panel must run as root")
+	}
+
 	debug.SetGCPercent(10)
 	debug.SetMemoryLimit(64 << 20)