diff --git a/appspec.yml b/appspec.yml
index 85b59e491..e2218bcd9 100644
--- a/appspec.yml
+++ b/appspec.yml
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ hooks:
   ApplicationStart: 
     - 
       location: scripts/aws_start_app.sh
-      runas: ubuntu
+      runas: root
       timeout: 300
   ApplicationStop: 
     - 
       location: scripts/aws_stop_app.sh
-      runas: ubuntu
+      runas: root
       timeout: 300
 os: linux
 version: 0.0