diff --git a/tcpdump.c b/tcpdump.c
index 7a8f4613..c2f681b8 100644
--- a/tcpdump.c
+++ b/tcpdump.c
@@ -2036,8 +2036,13 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
                /* Run with '-Z root' to restore old behaviour */
                if (!username)
                        username = WITH_USER;
-               else if (strcmp(username, "root") == 0)
+               else if (strcmp(username, "root") == 0) {
                        username = NULL;
+                       if (chroot_dir) {
+                               warning("chroot to %s disabled", chroot_dir);
+                               chroot_dir = NULL;
+                       }
+               }
        }
 #endif