diff --git a/project_config.sh b/project_config.sh
index aaf0bfb..51827e2 100755
--- a/project_config.sh
+++ b/project_config.sh
@@ -58,8 +58,9 @@ dir_rex=${project_root}/rex.project
 # the sysroot being created
 dir_sysroot=${dir_artifacts}/T_SYSROOT
 
-user="phanes"
-group="phanes"
+# set this manually because rex runs as root for its setgid/setuid
+build_user="bagira"
+build_group="bagira"
 
 # if we're being supplied parameters we assume it's being called by make
 # and need to recall make with all appropriate vars set
diff --git a/rex.project/x86_64/components/stage1/welcome.bash b/rex.project/x86_64/components/stage1/welcome.bash
index a282c0b..cd8fded 100755
--- a/rex.project/x86_64/components/stage1/welcome.bash
+++ b/rex.project/x86_64/components/stage1/welcome.bash
@@ -44,3 +44,8 @@ echo -e "\e[31m$HORSE\e[0m"
 echo
 echo "Welcome to Pyrois, the build system for Dark Horse Linux."
 echo
+
+echo running as: $build_user:$build_group
+echo
+echo
+echo
diff --git a/rex.project/x86_64/units/stage1.units b/rex.project/x86_64/units/stage1.units
index ceb652d..96ac93f 100644
--- a/rex.project/x86_64/units/stage1.units
+++ b/rex.project/x86_64/units/stage1.units
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@
         "active":       			true,
         "required":     			true,
 		"set_user_context": 		true,
-        "user":         			"phanes",
-        "group":        			"phanes",
+        "user":         			"$build_user",
+        "group":           "$build_group",
 		"supply_environment":		true,
         "environment":  			"environments/stage1.env.bash"
     },
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@
         "active":       			true,
         "required":     			true,
 		"set_user_context": 		true,
-        "user":         			"phanes",
-        "group":        			"phanes",
+        "user":         			"$build_user",
+        "group":           "$build_group",
 		"supply_environment":		true,
         "environment":  			"environments/stage1.env.bash"
     },
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@
         "active":       			true,
         "required":     			true,
 		"set_user_context": 		true,
-        "user":         			"phanes",
-        "group":        			"phanes",
+        "user":         			"$build_user",
+        "group":           "$build_group",
 		"supply_environment":		true,
         "environment":  			"environments/stage1.env.bash"
     },
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@
         "active":       			true,
         "required":     			true,
 		"set_user_context": 		true,
-        "user":         			"phanes",
-        "group":        			"phanes",
+        "user":         			"$build_user",
+        "group":           "$build_group",
 		"supply_environment":		true,
         "environment":  			"environments/stage1.env.bash"
     },
@@ -103,8 +103,8 @@
         "active":       			true,
         "required":     			true,
 		"set_user_context": 		true,
-        "user":         			"phanes",
-        "group":        			"phanes",
+        "user":         			"$build_user",
+        "group":           "$build_group",
 		"supply_environment":		true,
         "environment":  			"environments/stage1.env.bash"
     },
@@ -121,8 +121,8 @@
         "active":       			true,
         "required":     			true,
 		"set_user_context": 		true,
-        "user":         			"phanes",
-        "group":        			"phanes",
+        "user":         			"$build_user",
+        "group":           "$build_group",
 		"supply_environment":		true,
         "environment":  			"environments/stage1.env.bash"
     },
@@ -139,8 +139,8 @@
         "active":       			true,
         "required":     			true,
 		"set_user_context": 		true,
-        "user":         			"phanes",
-        "group":        			"phanes",
+        "user":         			"$build_user",
+        "group":           "$build_group",
 		"supply_environment":		true,
         "environment":  			"environments/stage1.env.bash"
     }