diff --git a/.changelog/4464.cfg.md b/.changelog/4464.cfg.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a177f777e45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/4464.cfg.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+go/oasis-node/cmd/node: Do not allow running oasis-node as root
+
+Nothing in oasis-node will ever require elevated privileges.  Attempting
+to run a node as the root user will now terminate the node immediately
+on startup.  While there may be specific circumstances where it is safe
+to run network services with the effective user ID set to 0, the
+overwelming majority of cases where this is done is misconfiguration.
+
+If the previous behavior is required, the binary must be run in
+unsafe/debug mode (via the intentionally undocumented flag), and
+`debug.allow_root` must also be set.
diff --git a/.changelog/4464.feature.md b/.changelog/4464.feature.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ae2051bd701
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/4464.feature.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+go/oasis-node/cmd/node: Do not allow running oasis-node as root
+
+Running network accessible services as the root user is extremely
+bad for system security as a general rule.  While it would be "ok"
+if we can drop privileges, `syscall.AllThreadsSyscall` does not
+work if the binary uses cgo at all.
diff --git a/go/oasis-node/cmd/common/common.go b/go/oasis-node/cmd/common/common.go
index ab9d973bdc8..9622afa3148 100644
--- a/go/oasis-node/cmd/common/common.go
+++ b/go/oasis-node/cmd/common/common.go
@@ -320,3 +320,11 @@ func SetBasicVersionTemplate(cmd *cobra.Command) {
 Go toolchain version: {{ toolchain }}
 `)
 }
+
+// IsNotRootOrAllowed returns if the current user is allowed to run a node,
+// and if the effective user id is elevated or not.
+func IsNotRootOrAllowed() (canRun bool, isRoot bool) {
+	isRoot = os.Geteuid() == 0
+	canRun = !isRoot || flags.DebugAllowRoot()
+	return
+}
diff --git a/go/oasis-node/cmd/common/flags/flags.go b/go/oasis-node/cmd/common/flags/flags.go
index b4f6d3192f4..012ae5887b5 100644
--- a/go/oasis-node/cmd/common/flags/flags.go
+++ b/go/oasis-node/cmd/common/flags/flags.go
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ const (
 	// CfgDebugTestEntity is the command line flag to enable the debug test
 	// entity.
 	CfgDebugTestEntity = "debug.test_entity"
+	// CfgDebugAllowRoot is the command line flag to enable running the node
+	// as root.
+	CfgDebugAllowRoot = "debug.allow_root"
 	// CfgGenesisFile is the flag used to specify a genesis file.
 	CfgGenesisFile = "genesis.file"
 	// CfgConsensusValidator is the flag used to opt-in to being a validator.
@@ -38,6 +41,8 @@ var (
 	ForceFlags = flag.NewFlagSet("", flag.ContinueOnError)
 	// DebugTestEntityFlags has the test entity enable flag.
 	DebugTestEntityFlags = flag.NewFlagSet("", flag.ContinueOnError)
+	// DebugAllowRootFlag has the root enable flag.
+	DebugAllowRootFlag = flag.NewFlagSet("", flag.ContinueOnError)
 
 	// GenesisFileFlags has the genesis file flag.
 	GenesisFileFlags = flag.NewFlagSet("", flag.ContinueOnError)
@@ -75,6 +80,11 @@ func DebugTestEntity() bool {
 	return DebugDontBlameOasis() && viper.GetBool(CfgDebugTestEntity)
 }
 
+// DebugAllowRoot returns true iff the root account enable flag is set.
+func DebugAllowRoot() bool {
+	return DebugDontBlameOasis() && viper.GetBool(CfgDebugAllowRoot)
+}
+
 // GenesisFile returns the set genesis file.
 func GenesisFile() string {
 	return viper.GetString(CfgGenesisFile)
@@ -107,9 +117,12 @@ func init() {
 
 	GenesisFileFlags.StringP(CfgGenesisFile, "g", "genesis.json", "path to genesis file")
 
-	DebugDontBlameOasisFlag.Bool(CfgDebugDontBlameOasis, false, "Enable debug/unsafe/insecure options")
+	DebugDontBlameOasisFlag.Bool(CfgDebugDontBlameOasis, false, "enable debug/unsafe/insecure options")
 	_ = DebugDontBlameOasisFlag.MarkHidden(CfgDebugDontBlameOasis)
 
+	DebugAllowRootFlag.Bool(CfgDebugAllowRoot, false, "allow running as root account")
+	_ = DebugAllowRootFlag.MarkHidden(CfgDebugAllowRoot)
+
 	DryRunFlag.BoolP(CfgDryRun, "n", false, "don't actually do anything, just show what will be done")
 
 	AssumeYesFlag.BoolP(CfgAssumeYes, cfgAssumeYesShort, false, "automatically assume yes for all questions")
@@ -118,6 +131,7 @@ func init() {
 		VerboseFlags,
 		ForceFlags,
 		DebugTestEntityFlags,
+		DebugAllowRootFlag,
 		GenesisFileFlags,
 		ConsensusValidatorFlag,
 		DebugDontBlameOasisFlag,
diff --git a/go/oasis-node/cmd/debug/byzantine/byzantine.go b/go/oasis-node/cmd/debug/byzantine/byzantine.go
index 8db58f8dde2..b79489677c6 100644
--- a/go/oasis-node/cmd/debug/byzantine/byzantine.go
+++ b/go/oasis-node/cmd/debug/byzantine/byzantine.go
@@ -310,6 +310,7 @@ func init() {
 	byzantineCmd.PersistentFlags().AddFlagSet(flags.GenesisFileFlags)
 	byzantineCmd.PersistentFlags().AddFlagSet(flags.DebugDontBlameOasisFlag)
 	byzantineCmd.PersistentFlags().AddFlagSet(flags.DebugTestEntityFlags)
+	byzantineCmd.PersistentFlags().AddFlagSet(flags.DebugAllowRootFlag)
 	byzantineCmd.PersistentFlags().AddFlagSet(grpc.ServerLocalFlags)
 	byzantineCmd.PersistentFlags().AddFlagSet(grpc.ServerTCPFlags)
 	byzantineCmd.PersistentFlags().AddFlagSet(p2p.Flags)
diff --git a/go/oasis-node/cmd/ias/proxy.go b/go/oasis-node/cmd/ias/proxy.go
index d9e2e5b2d4b..67258b19e32 100644
--- a/go/oasis-node/cmd/ias/proxy.go
+++ b/go/oasis-node/cmd/ias/proxy.go
@@ -269,5 +269,6 @@ func init() {
 	proxyFlags.AddFlagSet(cmdGrpc.ClientFlags)
 	proxyFlags.AddFlagSet(flags.GenesisFileFlags)
 	proxyFlags.AddFlagSet(flags.DebugDontBlameOasisFlag)
+	proxyFlags.AddFlagSet(flags.DebugAllowRootFlag)
 	proxyFlags.AddFlagSet(pprof.Flags)
 }
diff --git a/go/oasis-node/cmd/node/node.go b/go/oasis-node/cmd/node/node.go
index 5bc5d5899e7..80a9c1a4dee 100644
--- a/go/oasis-node/cmd/node/node.go
+++ b/go/oasis-node/cmd/node/node.go
@@ -559,6 +559,18 @@ func NewNode() (node *Node, err error) { // nolint: gocyclo
 		return nil, errors.New("data directory not configured")
 	}
 
+	// Check to see if the user has elevated privs or not.
+	canRun, isRoot := cmdCommon.IsNotRootOrAllowed()
+	if !canRun {
+		logger.Error("running with elevated privileges not allowed")
+		return nil, errors.New("running with elevated privileges not allowed")
+	}
+	if isRoot {
+		// The flags for allowing running as root must be set, warn.
+		// If something bad happens, Don't Blame Oasis.
+		logger.Warn("running with elevated privileges is NOT RECOMMENDED")
+	}
+
 	// Load configured values for all registered crash points.
 	crash.LoadViperArgValues()
 
@@ -733,6 +745,7 @@ func Register(parentCmd *cobra.Command) {
 
 func init() {
 	Flags.AddFlagSet(flags.DebugTestEntityFlags)
+	Flags.AddFlagSet(flags.DebugAllowRootFlag)
 	Flags.AddFlagSet(flags.ConsensusValidatorFlag)
 	Flags.AddFlagSet(flags.GenesisFileFlags)
 
diff --git a/go/oasis-node/node_test.go b/go/oasis-node/node_test.go
index 2b420211331..33e73af6c6a 100644
--- a/go/oasis-node/node_test.go
+++ b/go/oasis-node/node_test.go
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ var (
 		{"log.format", "JSON"},
 		{cmdCommonFlags.CfgConsensusValidator, true},
 		{cmdCommonFlags.CfgDebugDontBlameOasis, true},
+		{cmdCommonFlags.CfgDebugAllowRoot, true},
 		{storageWorker.CfgBackend, "badger"},
 		{runtimeRegistry.CfgRuntimeMode, string(runtimeRegistry.RuntimeModeCompute)},
 		{runtimeRegistry.CfgRuntimeProvisioner, runtimeRegistry.RuntimeProvisionerMock},
diff --git a/go/oasis-test-runner/cmd/root.go b/go/oasis-test-runner/cmd/root.go
index 4da44354847..7e792fffcbf 100644
--- a/go/oasis-test-runner/cmd/root.go
+++ b/go/oasis-test-runner/cmd/root.go
@@ -625,6 +625,7 @@ func init() {
 		}
 
 		viper.Set(nodeFlags.CfgDebugDontBlameOasis, true)
+		viper.Set(nodeFlags.CfgDebugAllowRoot, true)
 		viper.Set(nodeCommon.CfgDebugAllowTestKeys, true)
 	})
 }
diff --git a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/args.go b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/args.go
index db1f8cf7ac8..6df61c9fae8 100644
--- a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/args.go
+++ b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/args.go
@@ -113,6 +113,13 @@ func (args *argBuilder) debugDontBlameOasis() *argBuilder {
 	return args
 }
 
+func (args *argBuilder) debugAllowRoot() *argBuilder {
+	args.vec = append(args.vec, Argument{
+		Name: flags.CfgDebugAllowRoot,
+	})
+	return args
+}
+
 func (args *argBuilder) debugAllowTestKeys() *argBuilder {
 	args.vec = append(args.vec, Argument{
 		Name: cmdCommon.CfgDebugAllowTestKeys,
diff --git a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/byzantine.go b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/byzantine.go
index 68c60ec7166..3dd4a959472 100644
--- a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/byzantine.go
+++ b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/byzantine.go
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ type ByzantineCfg struct {
 
 func (worker *Byzantine) AddArgs(args *argBuilder) error {
 	args.debugDontBlameOasis().
+		debugAllowRoot().
 		debugAllowTestKeys().
 		debugSetRlimit().
 		debugEnableProfiling(worker.Node.pprofPort).
diff --git a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/client.go b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/client.go
index 044d073fc77..372c46a4614 100644
--- a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/client.go
+++ b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/client.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ type ClientCfg struct {
 
 func (client *Client) AddArgs(args *argBuilder) error {
 	args.debugDontBlameOasis().
+		debugAllowRoot().
 		debugAllowTestKeys().
 		debugSetRlimit().
 		debugEnableProfiling(client.Node.pprofPort).
diff --git a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/compute.go b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/compute.go
index eceee626fb9..4728d73c40d 100644
--- a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/compute.go
+++ b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/compute.go
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ func (worker *Compute) AddArgs(args *argBuilder) error {
 	defer worker.RUnlock()
 
 	args.debugDontBlameOasis().
+		debugAllowRoot().
 		debugAllowTestKeys().
 		debugSetRlimit().
 		debugEnableProfiling(worker.Node.pprofPort).
diff --git a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/ias.go b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/ias.go
index 3751257c042..648dc6bcafd 100644
--- a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/ias.go
+++ b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/ias.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ type iasProxy struct {
 
 func (ias *iasProxy) AddArgs(args *argBuilder) error {
 	args.debugDontBlameOasis().
+		debugAllowRoot().
 		debugAllowTestKeys().
 		debugSetRlimit().
 		grpcServerPort(ias.grpcPort).
diff --git a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/keymanager.go b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/keymanager.go
index 12dca6fa98f..779308c6671 100644
--- a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/keymanager.go
+++ b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/keymanager.go
@@ -254,6 +254,7 @@ func (km *Keymanager) AddArgs(args *argBuilder) error {
 	}
 
 	args.debugDontBlameOasis().
+		debugAllowRoot().
 		debugAllowTestKeys().
 		debugSetRlimit().
 		debugEnableProfiling(km.Node.pprofPort).
diff --git a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/seed.go b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/seed.go
index e95e8f86401..2fe051f60a3 100644
--- a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/seed.go
+++ b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/seed.go
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ func (seed *Seed) AddArgs(args *argBuilder) error {
 	}
 
 	args.debugDontBlameOasis().
+		debugAllowRoot().
 		debugAllowTestKeys().
 		debugSetRlimit().
 		workerCertificateRotation(true).
diff --git a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/sentry.go b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/sentry.go
index 37c0a08e08c..c4f1206183d 100644
--- a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/sentry.go
+++ b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/sentry.go
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ func (sentry *Sentry) AddArgs(args *argBuilder) error {
 	}
 
 	args.debugDontBlameOasis().
+		debugAllowRoot().
 		debugAllowTestKeys().
 		debugSetRlimit().
 		debugEnableProfiling(sentry.Node.pprofPort).
diff --git a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/validator.go b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/validator.go
index aa9d8aefb07..e4621d6ea87 100644
--- a/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/validator.go
+++ b/go/oasis-test-runner/oasis/validator.go
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ func (val *Validator) ExternalGRPCAddress() string {
 
 func (val *Validator) AddArgs(args *argBuilder) error {
 	args.debugDontBlameOasis().
+		debugAllowRoot().
 		debugAllowTestKeys().
 		debugSetRlimit().
 		debugEnableProfiling(val.Node.pprofPort).