diff --git a/scripts/build-run.sh b/scripts/build-run.sh
index 9cbda2808a..c1cb25a6ff 100755
--- a/scripts/build-run.sh
+++ b/scripts/build-run.sh
@@ -8,9 +8,12 @@ DIR=/opt/monad-linux
 VOLUME=$(dirname $(pwd))/:$DIR
 
 # creates new user in container matching the local user so that
-# artifacts will be owned by the local user (instead of root)
+# artifacts will be owned by the local user; set IMPERSONATE to false
+# to disable and run as root, defaults to true
+if [[ ! $IMPERSONATE ]]; then IMPERSONATE=true; fi
 impersonate()
 {
+    if ! $IMPERSONATE; then return; fi
     echo \
 	groupadd -g $CGID $CGROUP '&&' \
 	useradd -u $CUID -g $CGID -d $DIR $CUSER '&&' \
diff --git a/scripts/build-tty.sh b/scripts/build-tty.sh
index ad70fae863..d6dfcbea6d 100755
--- a/scripts/build-tty.sh
+++ b/scripts/build-tty.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env sh
 
 # Runs with a pseudo tty so that interactive shells can be opened
-DOCKERFLAGS="--interactive --tty" ./build-run.sh "$*"
+export DOCKERFLAGS="--interactive --tty"
+./build-run.sh "$*"
diff --git a/scripts/build.sh b/scripts/build.sh
index 225e5953f4..abf252cc22 100755
--- a/scripts/build.sh
+++ b/scripts/build.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env sh
 
-echo "$*"
 # Runs by non-interactively, just attaches output
-DOCKERFLAGS="--attach STDOUT --attach STDERR" ./build-run.sh "$*"
+export DOCKERFLAGS="--attach STDOUT --attach STDERR"
+./build-run.sh "$*"