diff --git a/usr.sbin/pw/pw.8 b/usr.sbin/pw/pw.8
--- a/usr.sbin/pw/pw.8
+++ b/usr.sbin/pw/pw.8
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 .\" OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
 .\" SUCH DAMAGE.
 .\"
-.Dd July 29, 2024
+.Dd August 19, 2025
 .Dt PW 8
 .Os
 .Sh NAME
@@ -191,7 +191,12 @@
 .Xr master.passwd 5 ,
 .Xr group 5
 and the secure and insecure
-password database files, and must be run as root.
+password database files, and must be run as root
+.Po except when using
+.Fl R
+or
+.Fl V
+.Pc .
 .Pp
 The first one or two keywords provided to
 .Nm
diff --git a/usr.sbin/pw/pw.c b/usr.sbin/pw/pw.c
--- a/usr.sbin/pw/pw.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/pw/pw.c
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@
 				snprintf(conf.etcpath, sizeof(conf.etcpath),
 				    "%s%s", optarg, arg == 'R' ?
 				    _PATH_PWD : "");
+				conf.altroot = true;
 			} else
 				break;
 		}
diff --git a/usr.sbin/pw/pw_user.c b/usr.sbin/pw/pw_user.c
--- a/usr.sbin/pw/pw_user.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/pw/pw_user.c
@@ -238,6 +238,13 @@
 	}
 }
 
+static void
+pw_check_root(void)
+{
+	if (!conf.altroot && geteuid() != 0)
+		errx(EX_NOPERM, "you must be root");
+}
+
 /*
  * The M_LOCK and M_UNLOCK functions simply add or remove
  * a "*LOCKED*" prefix from in front of the password to
@@ -256,8 +263,7 @@
 	bool locked = false;
 	uid_t id = (uid_t)-1;
 
-	if (geteuid() != 0)
-		errx(EX_NOPERM, "you must be root");
+	pw_check_root();
 
 	if (arg1 == NULL)
 		errx(EX_DATAERR, "username or id required");
@@ -1324,8 +1330,8 @@
 	if (argc > 0)
 		usage();
 
-	if (geteuid() != 0 && ! dryrun)
-		errx(EX_NOPERM, "you must be root");
+	if (!dryrun)
+		pw_check_root();
 
 	if (quiet)
 		freopen(_PATH_DEVNULL, "w", stderr);
@@ -1641,8 +1647,8 @@
 	if (argc > 0)
 		usage();
 
-	if (geteuid() != 0 && ! dryrun)
-		errx(EX_NOPERM, "you must be root");
+	if (!dryrun)
+		pw_check_root();
 
 	if (quiet)
 		freopen(_PATH_DEVNULL, "w", stderr);
diff --git a/usr.sbin/pw/pwupd.h b/usr.sbin/pw/pwupd.h
--- a/usr.sbin/pw/pwupd.h
+++ b/usr.sbin/pw/pwupd.h
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@
 	char		 etcpath[MAXPATHLEN];
 	int		 fd;
 	int		 rootfd;
+	bool		 altroot;
 	bool		 checkduplicate;
 };