diff --git a/scripts/dockerimages/scripts/rancheros-install b/scripts/dockerimages/scripts/rancheros-install
index 7f005fb3..2bb2b74a 100755
--- a/scripts/dockerimages/scripts/rancheros-install
+++ b/scripts/dockerimages/scripts/rancheros-install
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ EOF
 PARTITION_FLAG="false"
 INSTALL_CONTAINER_IMAGE="rancher/os"
 
+if [ "$(whoami)" != "root" ]; then
+    echo "Please run as root." 1>&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 if [ -x /usr/bin/rancherctl ]; then
     INSTALL_CONTAINER_IMAGE="$(rancherctl config get upgrade.image)"
 fi
@@ -46,11 +51,6 @@ do
     esac
 done
 
-if [ "$(whoami)" != "root" ]; then
-    echo "Please run as root." 1>&2
-    exit 1
-fi
-
 if [[ -z "${INSTALL_TYPE}" ]]; then
     echo "No install type specified...defaulting to generic"
     INSTALL_TYPE="generic"