diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index f5ffdad0844..67ea91e822a 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ install-files:
 	$(MKDIR_P) $(DESTDIR)$(mandir)/$(mansubdir)5
 	$(MKDIR_P) $(DESTDIR)$(mandir)/$(mansubdir)8
 	$(MKDIR_P) $(DESTDIR)$(libexecdir)
-	$(MKDIR_P) -m 0755 $(DESTDIR)$(PRIVSEP_PATH)
+	test $$(id -u) != 0 || $(MKDIR_P) -m 0755 $(DESTDIR)$(PRIVSEP_PATH)
 	$(INSTALL) -m 0755 $(STRIP_OPT) ssh$(EXEEXT) $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/ssh$(EXEEXT)
 	$(INSTALL) -m 0755 $(STRIP_OPT) scp$(EXEEXT) $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/scp$(EXEEXT)
 	$(INSTALL) -m 0755 $(STRIP_OPT) ssh-add$(EXEEXT) $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/ssh-add$(EXEEXT)