diff --git a/src/etc/rc.initial b/src/etc/rc.initial
index 3c492f52b..aef4dc506 100755
--- a/src/etc/rc.initial
+++ b/src/etc/rc.initial
@@ -9,10 +9,11 @@
 trap : 2
 trap : 3
 
-if [ "$(id -u)" != "0" ]; then
-	echo "Must be root."
-	exit 1
-fi
+# XXX service(8) calls this without being root
+#if [ "$(id -u)" != "0" ]; then
+#	echo "Must be root."
+#	exit 1
+#i
 
 # shell started with parameters, passthrough to real shell
 if [ -n "${*}" ]; then