diff --git a/docker/docker.go b/docker/docker.go
index 7c366001b7..5fe1681448 100644
--- a/docker/docker.go
+++ b/docker/docker.go
@@ -98,6 +98,10 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	if *flDaemon {
+		if os.Geteuid() != 0 {
+			log.Fatalf("The Docker daemon needs to be run as root")
+		}
+
 		if flag.NArg() != 0 {
 			flag.Usage()
 			return