diff --git a/install_on_linux.sh b/install_on_linux.sh
index 8215727..5ed71fb 100755
--- a/install_on_linux.sh
+++ b/install_on_linux.sh
@@ -15,20 +15,34 @@ if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
-curl -fL $COMPOSE_SWITCH_URL -o /usr/local/bin/compose-switch
-chmod +x /usr/local/bin/compose-switch
+sh_c='sh -c'
+sudo_sh_c='sh -c'
+if [ "$user" != 'root' ]; then
+    if [ "$(command -v sudo)" ]; then
+        sudo_sh_c='sudo -E sh -c'
+    elif [ "$(command -v su)" ]; then
+        sudo_sh_c='su -c'
+    else
+        echo "Error: This installer needs the ability to run commands as root."
+        exit 1
+    fi
+fi
+
+$sudo_sh_c "curl -fL $COMPOSE_SWITCH_URL -o /usr/local/bin/compose-switch"
+$sudo_sh_c "chmod +x /usr/local/bin/compose-switch"
 
 COMPOSE=$(command -v docker-compose)
 if [ "$COMPOSE" = /usr/local/bin/docker-compose ]; then
   # This is a manual installation of docker-compose
   # so, safe for us to rename binary
-  mv /usr/local/bin/docker-compose /usr/local/bin/docker-compose-v1
+  $sudo_sh_c "mv /usr/local/bin/docker-compose /usr/local/bin/docker-compose-v1"
   COMPOSE=/usr/local/bin/docker-compose-v1
 fi
 
-ALTERNATIVES="update-alternatives"
+
+ALTERNATIVES="$sudo_sh_c update-alternatives"
 if ! command -v $ALTERNATIVES; then
-  ALTERNATIVES=alternatives
+  ALTERNATIVES="$sudo_sh_c alternatives"
 fi  
 
 echo "Configuring `docker-compose` alternatives"
@@ -38,4 +52,4 @@ fi
 $ALTERNATIVES --install /usr/local/bin/docker-compose docker-compose /usr/local/bin/compose-switch 99
 
 echo "'docker-compose' is now set to run Compose V2"
-echo "use '$ALTERNATIVES --config docker-compose' if you want to switch back to Compose V1"
\ No newline at end of file
+echo "use '$ALTERNATIVES --config docker-compose' if you want to switch back to Compose V1"