diff --git a/publish.py b/publish.py
index c308083..0510a00 100755
--- a/publish.py
+++ b/publish.py
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ jhbuildrc = os.path.join(os.getcwd(), 'jhbuildrc')
 checkouts_directory = os.path.join(os.getcwd(), '..', 'src')
 web_directory = os.path.join(os.getcwd(), '..', 'web')
 
+os.environ['JHBUILD_RUN_AS_ROOT'] = '1'
+
 if not os.path.exists('jhbuild'):
     os.system('jhbuild  -f jhbuildrc -m doceo.modules buildone itstool yelp-xsl yelp-tools')