diff --git a/scripts/restic/backup.sh b/scripts/restic/backup.sh
index 451a66e..a0fd25e 100755
--- a/scripts/restic/backup.sh
+++ b/scripts/restic/backup.sh
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 # author:	Daniel Sommer <daniel.sommer@velvettear.de>
 # license:	MIT
 
-# check permissions
-[[ "$EUID" != 0 ]] && printf "error: permission denied!\n" >&2 && exit 1
+# check if we're running in a subshell, forbid direct execution
+[[ "$ZSH_EVAL_CONTEXT" == "toplevel" ]] && printf "error: direct execution of this script is forbidden!\n" >&2 && exit 1
 
 # get the "home" directory
 home="$(dirname $(realpath "$0"))"
diff --git a/scripts/restic/prune.sh b/scripts/restic/prune.sh
index 15e7686..0c666ac 100755
--- a/scripts/restic/prune.sh
+++ b/scripts/restic/prune.sh
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 # author:	Daniel Sommer <daniel.sommer@velvettear.de>
 # license:	MIT
 
-# check permissions
-[[ "$EUID" != 0 ]] && printf "error: permission denied!\n" >&2 && exit 1
+# check if we're running in a subshell, forbid direct execution
+[[ "$ZSH_EVAL_CONTEXT" == "toplevel" ]] && printf "error: direct execution of this script is forbidden!\n" >&2 && exit 1
 
 # define title and icon for the notification
 export RESTIC_NTFY_TITLE="prune"
diff --git a/scripts/restic/restic.env b/scripts/restic/restic.env
index 7a89e5e..06f73b8 100644
--- a/scripts/restic/restic.env
+++ b/scripts/restic/restic.env
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 # author:	Daniel Sommer <daniel.sommer@velvettear.de>
 # license:	MIT
 
+# define user
+export RESTIC_USER="restic"
+
 # override default repository
 export RESTIC_REPOSITORY="/mnt/restic"