diff --git a/weave b/weave
index 63993143..0eb30edf 100755
--- a/weave
+++ b/weave
@@ -72,16 +72,15 @@ exec_remote() {
 if [ "$1" = "--local" ]; then
     LOCAL="$1"
     shift 1
+    [ $(id -u) = 0 ] || {
+        echo "weave must be run as 'root' when run locally" >&2
+        exit 1
+    }
 elif [ "$1" != "run" ]; then
     exec_remote "$@"
     exit $?
 fi
 
-[ $(id -u) = 0 ] || ([ "$1" = "run" ] && [ -z "$LOCAL" ]) || {
-    echo "weave must be run as 'root' when run locally" >&2
-    exit 1
-}
-
 CONTAINER_NAME=${WEAVE_CONTAINER_NAME:-weave}
 DNS_CONTAINER_NAME=weavedns
 BRIDGE=weave