diff --git a/EESSI-remove-software.sh b/EESSI-remove-software.sh
index c0818db393..582ed61a7f 100755
--- a/EESSI-remove-software.sh
+++ b/EESSI-remove-software.sh
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ fi
 pr_diff=$(ls [0-9]*.diff | head -1)
 
 # if this script is run as root, use PR patch file to determine if software needs to be removed first
-if [ $EUID -eq 0 ]; then
+if [ $EUID -ne 0 ]; then
     changed_easystacks_rebuilds=$(cat ${pr_diff} | grep '^+++' | cut -f2 -d' ' | sed 's@^[a-z]/@@g' | grep 'easystacks/.*yml$' | egrep -v 'known-issues|missing' | grep "/rebuilds/")
     if [ -z ${changed_easystacks_rebuilds} ]; then
         echo "No software needs to be removed."
@@ -141,5 +141,6 @@ if [ $EUID -eq 0 ]; then
         done
     fi
 else
-    fatal_error "This script can only be run by root!"
+    # fatal_error "This script can only be run by root!"
+    fatal_error "This script must not be run by root!"
 fi