diff --git a/scripts/run_client.py b/scripts/run_client.py
index 7cca348..05833e8 100644
--- a/scripts/run_client.py
+++ b/scripts/run_client.py
@@ -373,6 +373,20 @@ def install_service_systemd(
                 workspace_root=workspace_root,
             )
 
+        if os.name != "nt" and hasattr(os, "geteuid") and os.geteuid() == 0:
+            print(
+                "Running as root; systemd user services aren’t available. Falling back to cron @reboot."
+            )
+            return install_service_cron(
+                service_name,
+                repo_root,
+                venv_py,
+                headless=headless,
+                detached=detached,
+                pull=pull,
+                workspace_root=workspace_root,
+            )
+
         unit_dir = Path.home() / ".config" / "systemd" / "user"
         unit_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         unit_file = unit_dir / f"{service_name}.service"