diff --git a/src/libstore/gc.cc b/src/libstore/gc.cc
index e0de6a9681..e1075d0251 100644
--- a/src/libstore/gc.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/gc.cc
@@ -87,8 +87,11 @@ Path addPermRoot(const Path & _storePath, const Path & _gcRoot,
         string hash = printHash32(hashString(htSHA1, gcRoot));
         Path realRoot = canonPath((format("%1%/%2%/auto/%3%")
             % nixStateDir % gcRootsDir % hash).str());
-
-        createSymlink(gcRoot, storePath, true);
+        
+        {
+            SwitchToOriginalUser sw;
+            createSymlink(gcRoot, storePath, true);
+        }
         createSymlink(realRoot, gcRoot, false);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/nix-store/main.cc b/src/nix-store/main.cc
index a93956ab7a..4227f0cca3 100644
--- a/src/nix-store/main.cc
+++ b/src/nix-store/main.cc
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ static bool indirectRoot = false;
 
 static Path fixPath(Path path)
 {
+    SwitchToOriginalUser sw;
     path = absPath(path);
     while (!isInStore(path)) {
         if (!isLink(path)) break;