diff --git a/repo2docker/buildpacks/base.py b/repo2docker/buildpacks/base.py
index b2772e9e..140a1d33 100644
--- a/repo2docker/buildpacks/base.py
+++ b/repo2docker/buildpacks/base.py
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ COPY src/{{ src }} ${REPO_DIR}/{{ dst }}
 {% endif -%}
 
 {% if preassemble_script_directives -%}
+USER root
 RUN chown -R ${NB_USER}:${NB_USER} ${REPO_DIR}
 {% endif -%}