diff --git a/sickbeard/helpers.py b/sickbeard/helpers.py
index fe15f88017c3ded387db7ca6c8898d1b6ee2af76..0dcef3908f489aed1047ec11cce3bfb76d20e18c 100644
--- a/sickbeard/helpers.py
+++ b/sickbeard/helpers.py
@@ -446,6 +446,13 @@ def chmodAsParent(childPath):
     if childPath_mode == childMode:
         return
 
+    childPath_owner = os.stat(childPath).st_uid
+    user_id = os.geteuid()
+
+    if user_id !=0 and user_id != childPath_owner:
+        logger.log(u"Not running as root or owner of "+childPath+", not trying to set permissions", logger.DEBUG)
+        return
+
     try:
         ek.ek(os.chmod, childPath, childMode)
         logger.log(u"Setting permissions for %s to %o as parent directory has %o" % (childPath, childMode, parentMode), logger.DEBUG)
@@ -474,6 +481,13 @@ def fixSetGroupID(childPath):
         if childGID == parentGID:
             return
 
+        childPath_owner = os.stat(childPath).st_uid
+        user_id = os.geteuid()
+
+        if user_id !=0 and user_id != childPath_owner:
+            logger.log(u"Not running as root or owner of "+childPath+", not trying to set the set-group-ID", logger.DEBUG)
+            return
+
         try:
             ek.ek(os.chown, childPath, -1, parentGID)  #@UndefinedVariable - only available on UNIX
             logger.log(u"Respecting the set-group-ID bit on the parent directory for %s" % (childPath), logger.DEBUG)