diff --git a/src/dolphinviewcontainer.cpp b/src/dolphinviewcontainer.cpp
--- a/src/dolphinviewcontainer.cpp
+++ b/src/dolphinviewcontainer.cpp
@@ -108,6 +108,14 @@
     m_messageWidget->setCloseButtonVisible(true);
     m_messageWidget->hide();
 
+#ifndef Q_OS_WIN
+    if (getuid() == 0) {
+
+        // We must be logged in as the root user; show a big scary warning
+        showMessage(i18n("Running Dolphin as root can be dangerous. Please be careful."), Warning);
+    }
+#endif
+
     m_view = new DolphinView(url, this);
     connect(m_view, &DolphinView::urlChanged,
             m_urlNavigator, &KUrlNavigator::setLocationUrl);