diff --git a/build_packages b/build_packages
index 3256d91390..1d0bfe987c 100755
--- a/build_packages
+++ b/build_packages
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ restart_in_chroot_if_needed "$@"
 
 get_default_board
 
+assert_not_root_user
+
 # Developer-visible flags.
 DEFINE_string board "${DEFAULT_BOARD}" \
   "The board to build packages for."
diff --git a/setup_board b/setup_board
index 0d7d2cc6d4..fc011ff1a7 100755
--- a/setup_board
+++ b/setup_board
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ restart_in_chroot_if_needed "$@"
 
 get_default_board
 
+assert_not_root_user
+
 # Developer-visible flags.
 DEFINE_string board "$DEFAULT_BOARD" \
   "The name of the board to set up."