diff --git a/main/asterisk.c b/main/asterisk.c
index 60b25444de..ea464b76ab 100644
--- a/main/asterisk.c
+++ b/main/asterisk.c
@@ -2959,7 +2959,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 				ast_log(LOG_WARNING, "Unable to setgid to %d!\n", (int)pw->pw_gid);
 				exit(1);
 			}
-			if (initgroups(pw->pw_name, pw->pw_gid)) {
+			if (isroot && initgroups(pw->pw_name, pw->pw_gid)) {
 				ast_log(LOG_WARNING, "Unable to init groups for '%s'\n", runuser);
 				exit(1);
 			}