diff --git a/pacman-update-count.sh b/pacman-update-count.sh
index 6cb9850..5019783 100755
--- a/pacman-update-count.sh
+++ b/pacman-update-count.sh
@@ -3,6 +3,12 @@
 _updates_available="0"
 _target_file="/tmp/pacman-update-count"
 _user="ray"
+_user_id=$(id -u)
+
+if ! [ "$_user_id" -eq 0 ] ; then
+  echo "pacman-update-count.sh: insufficient priviliges: must be run as root"
+  exit 1
+fi
 
 pacman -Sy
 _query_output=$(pacman -Qu)