diff --git a/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-rule b/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-rule
index bbb916807..bd1556f58 100755
--- a/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-rule
+++ b/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-rule
@@ -349,7 +349,9 @@ def sigint_handler(*_):
 def main():
   signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, sigint_handler)
 
-  
+  if os.geteuid() != 0:
+    print('You must run this script as root', file=sys.stderr)
+    sys.exit(1)
 
   apply_help='After updating rule configuration, apply the idstools state.'