diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a797f8bc..f53f04e9 100755
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -295,6 +295,7 @@ You can configure your LED matrix with the same flags used in the [rpi-rgb-led-m
 --led-pwm-dither-bits     Time dithering of lower bits (Default: 0)
 --config                  Specify a configuration file name other, omitting json xtn (Default: config)
 --emulated                Force the scoreboard to run in software emulation mode.
+--drop-privileges         Force the matrix driver to drop root privileges after setup. (Default: true)
 ```
 
 ## Personalization
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 05119a72..f4624f3a 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -126,6 +126,9 @@ def args():
         help="Force using emulator mode over default matrix display.",
         const=True
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--drop-privileges", action="store_true", help="Force the matrix driver to drop root privileges after setup."
+    )
     return parser.parse_args()
 
 
@@ -148,6 +151,7 @@ def led_matrix_options(args):
     options.scan_mode = args.led_scan_mode
     options.pwm_lsb_nanoseconds = args.led_pwm_lsb_nanoseconds
     options.led_rgb_sequence = args.led_rgb_sequence
+    options.drop_privileges = args.drop_privileges
 
     try:
         options.pixel_mapper_config = args.led_pixel_mapper