diff --git a/core/autoload/files.el b/core/autoload/files.el
index 9afcb041d..99831229b 100644
--- a/core/autoload/files.el
+++ b/core/autoload/files.el
@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@
   "Open FILE as root."
   (interactive
    (list (read-file-name "Open as root: ")))
-  (find-file (if (file-writable-p file)
-                 file
-               (if (file-remote-p file)
-                   (concat "/" (file-remote-p file 'method) ":" (file-remote-p file 'user) "@" (file-remote-p file 'host)  "|sudo:root@" (file-remote-p file 'host) ":" (file-remote-p file 'localname))
-                 (concat "/sudo:root@localhost:" file)))))
+  (when (file-writable-p file)
+    (user-error "File is user writeable, aborting sudo"))
+  (find-file (if (file-remote-p file)
+                 (concat "/" (file-remote-p file 'method) ":" (file-remote-p file 'user) "@" (file-remote-p file 'host)  "|sudo:root@" (file-remote-p file 'host) ":" (file-remote-p file 'localname))
+               (concat "/sudo:root@localhost:" file))))
 
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun doom/sudo-this-file ()