diff --git a/Build/InstallDesktopFile.hs b/Build/InstallDesktopFile.hs
index 3bc796315a..ab2773bf11 100644
--- a/Build/InstallDesktopFile.hs
+++ b/Build/InstallDesktopFile.hs
@@ -46,9 +46,10 @@ writeDesktop command = do
 	writeDesktopMenuFile (autostart command) $
 		autoStartPath "git-annex" configdir
 
-	programfile <- programFile
-	createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir programFile)
-	writeFile programfile command
+	when (uid /= 0) $ do
+		programfile <- programFile
+		createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir programFile)
+		writeFile programfile command
 
 main = getArgs >>= go
 	where