diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-install/nixos-install.sh b/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-install/nixos-install.sh
index 2a592223a921..b15103c5ce14 100755
--- a/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-install/nixos-install.sh
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-install/nixos-install.sh
@@ -122,6 +122,14 @@ while [[ "$checkPath" != "/" ]]; do
     checkPath="$(dirname "$checkPath")"
 done
 
+# Check if the mount point root directory is owned by root
+if [[ "$(stat -c '%u:%g' "$mountPoint")" != "0:0" ]]; then
+    echo "$0: $mountPoint is not owned by root:root (owned by $(stat -c '%U:%G' "$mountPoint"))"
+    echo "$0: installation root directory must be owned by root to avoid system issues"
+    echo "$0: run 'sudo chown root:root $mountPoint' to fix this"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 # Verify that user is not trying to use attribute building and flake
 # at the same time
 if [[ -z $buildingAttribute && -n $flake ]]; then