diff --git a/package/vlc/vlc.mk b/package/vlc/vlc.mk
index 6f7fd58a05..4e84b1285e 100644
--- a/package/vlc/vlc.mk
+++ b/package/vlc/vlc.mk
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ VLC_CONF_OPTS += \
 	--disable-mfx \
 	--disable-vdpau \
 	--disable-addonmanagermodules \
+	--enable-run-as-root \
 
 # Building static and shared doesn't work, so force static off.
 ifeq ($(BR2_STATIC_LIBS),)