diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 40b4bb4..0da3f06 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@ xzimages: $(addsuffix .img.xz,$(platforms))
 images: $(addsuffix .img,$(platforms))
 yaml: $(addsuffix .yaml,$(platforms))
 
+ifeq ($(shell id -u),0)
+as_root =
+else
+as_root = fakemachine -v $(CURDIR) -- env --chdir $(CURDIR)
+endif
+
 target_platforms:
 	@echo $(platforms)
 
@@ -122,7 +128,7 @@ raspi_4_bullseye.yaml: raspi_base_bullseye.yaml
 
 %.img: %.yaml
 	touch $(@:.img=.log)
-	time nice vmdb2 --verbose --rootfs-tarball=$(subst .img,.tar.gz,$@) --output=$@ $(subst .img,.yaml,$@) --log $(subst .img,.log,$@)
+	time nice $(as_root) vmdb2 --verbose --rootfs-tarball=$(subst .img,.tar.gz,$@) --output=$@ $(subst .img,.yaml,$@) --log $(subst .img,.log,$@)
 	chmod 0644 $@ $(@,.img=.log)
 
 _ck_root:
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c65fb37..471ec71 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -30,10 +30,12 @@ Debian Buster (10) or higher system:
 * debootstrap
 * time
 * kpartx
+* fakemachine (optional, only available on amd64)
 
 To install these (as root):
 ```shell
    apt install -y vmdb2 dosfstools qemu-utils qemu-user-static debootstrap binfmt-support time kpartx
+   apt install -y fakemachine
 ```
 
 Do note that –at least currently– vmdb2 uses some syntax that is available
@@ -50,8 +52,10 @@ little as possible in a parametrized way. The master recipe is
 [raspi_master.yaml](raspi_master.yaml).
 
 A Makefile is supplied to drive the build of the recipes into images.
-Some portions of building the image will require root privileges, thus 
-you'll need to execute *make* below as root.  
+If `fakemachine` is installed, it can be run as an unprivileged user.
+Otherwise, because some steps of building the image require root privileges,
+you'll need to execute `make` as root.
+
 The argument to `make` is constructed as follows:
 `raspi_<model>_<release>.<result-type>`