diff --git a/testing/scripts/invoke_qemu.sh b/testing/scripts/invoke_qemu.sh
index 9324a2e9..d3ce6530 100755
--- a/testing/scripts/invoke_qemu.sh
+++ b/testing/scripts/invoke_qemu.sh
@@ -97,10 +97,9 @@ main() {
         # x86_64 uses ttyS0 for the first serial port
         bootparams+=" console=ttyS0"
         extra_args+=" -machine accel=kvm"
-        extra_args+=" -runas root"
     fi
 
-    qemu-system-${arch} \
+    sudo qemu-system-${arch} \
         -nographic -m 1G \
         -smp 8 \
         -kernel $kernel \