diff --git a/playbooks/haproxy-install.yml b/playbooks/haproxy-install.yml
index 2a2807de99..3046fa86d2 100644
--- a/playbooks/haproxy-install.yml
+++ b/playbooks/haproxy-install.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 - hosts: haproxy
+  user: root
   vars_files:
     - "{{ haproxy_keepalived_vars_file | default('vars/configs/keepalived_haproxy.yml')}}"
   roles: