diff --git a/scripts/shairport-sync-dbus-policy.conf b/scripts/shairport-sync-dbus-policy.conf
index 497dd885..2d42619c 100644
--- a/scripts/shairport-sync-dbus-policy.conf
+++ b/scripts/shairport-sync-dbus-policy.conf
@@ -4,11 +4,15 @@
           "http://www.freedesktop.org/standards/dbus/1.0/busconfig.dtd">
 <busconfig>
 
-  <!-- Only user shairport-sync can own the Shairport Sync service -->
+  <!-- Allow users "root" and "shairport-sync" to own the Shairport Sync service -->
+  <policy user="root">
+    <allow own="org.gnome.ShairportSync"/>
+  </policy>
   <policy user="shairport-sync">
     <allow own="org.gnome.ShairportSync"/>
   </policy>
 
+
   <!-- Allow anyone to invoke methods on Shairport Sync server -->
   <policy context="default">
     <allow send_destination="org.gnome.ShairportSync"/>
diff --git a/scripts/shairport-sync-mpris-policy.conf b/scripts/shairport-sync-mpris-policy.conf
index 1efb0072..17ab847a 100644
--- a/scripts/shairport-sync-mpris-policy.conf
+++ b/scripts/shairport-sync-mpris-policy.conf
@@ -4,10 +4,13 @@
           "http://www.freedesktop.org/standards/dbus/1.0/busconfig.dtd">
 <busconfig>
 
-  <!-- Only user shairport-sync can own the Shairport Sync MPRIS service -->
+  <!-- Allow users "root" and "shairport-sync" to own the Shairport Sync MPRIS service -->
   <policy user="shairport-sync">
     <allow own="org.mpris.MediaPlayer2.ShairportSync"/>
   </policy>
+  <policy user="root">
+    <allow own="org.mpris.MediaPlayer2.ShairportSync"/>
+  </policy>
 
   <!-- Allow anyone to invoke methods on Shairport Sync MPRIS server -->
   <policy context="default">