diff --git a/mopidy_iris/system.py b/mopidy_iris/system.py
index 868e30162..6b9378452 100755
--- a/mopidy_iris/system.py
+++ b/mopidy_iris/system.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def __init__(self, path):
 
 
 class IrisSystemThread(Thread):
-    _USE_SUDO = True
+    _USE_SUDO = os.environ.get("IRIS_USE_SUDO", True)
 
     def __init__(self, action, ioloop, callback):
         Thread.__init__(self)