diff -ru /usr/src/git/open-vm-tools/open-vm-tools/configure.ac ./configure.ac
--- /usr/src/git/open-vm-tools/open-vm-tools/configure.ac	2008-09-03 01:46:13.000000000 -0700
+++ ./configure.ac	2008-09-09 01:56:17.000000000 -0700
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 
 AC_INIT(
    [open-vm-tools],
-   [2008.09.03-114782],
+   [2008.09.03-00000],
    [open-vm-tools-devel@lists.sourceforge.net])
 
 # In order to make this configure script auto-detect situations where
@@ -83,7 +83,14 @@
       ;;
 esac
 
-# Kernel args
+# Operational arguments.
+AC_ARG_WITH([root-privileges],
+	    [AS_HELP_STRING([--without-root-privileges],
+	       [does not perform any operations that require root privileges])],
+	    [],
+	    [with_root_privileges=yes])
+
+# Kernel arguments.
 # The kernel args have to go here otherwise the KERNEL_RELEASE won't be visible
 # to getOsVersion()
 AC_ARG_WITH([kernel-modules],
@@ -953,6 +960,7 @@
 AM_CONDITIONAL(WITH_KERNEL_MODULES, test "$with_kernel_modules" = "yes")
 AM_CONDITIONAL(PAMD, test -d /etc/pam.d)
 AM_CONDITIONAL(ENABLE_UNITY, test "$enable_unity" = "yes")
+AM_CONDITIONAL(WITH_ROOT_PRIVILEGES, test "$with_root_privileges" = "yes")
 
 ### Feature-specific flags / actions
 # Combine where possible
diff -ru /usr/src/git/open-vm-tools/open-vm-tools/hgfsmounter/Makefile.am ./hgfsmounter/Makefile.am
--- /usr/src/git/open-vm-tools/open-vm-tools/hgfsmounter/Makefile.am	2008-08-11 12:40:14.000000000 -0700
+++ ./hgfsmounter/Makefile.am	2008-09-09 01:56:17.000000000 -0700
@@ -32,16 +32,16 @@
 install-exec-hook:
 	$(MV) $(DESTDIR)$(sbindir)/mount.vmhgfs \
 		$(DESTDIR)$(sbindir)/mount_vmhgfs
-	chown root $(DESTDIR)$(sbindir)/mount_vmhgfs
 	chmod u+s $(DESTDIR)$(sbindir)/mount_vmhgfs
+	-$(MKDIR_P) $(DESTDIR)/sbin
 	-$(LN_S) $(DESTDIR)$(sbindir)/mount_vmhgfs \
 		$(DESTDIR)/sbin/mount_vmhgfs &> /dev/null
 uninstall-hook:
 	-$(RM) -f $(DESTDIR)$(sbindir)/mount_vmhgfs &> /dev/null
 else
 install-exec-hook:
-	chown root $(DESTDIR)$(sbindir)/mount.vmhgfs
 	chmod u+s $(DESTDIR)$(sbindir)/mount.vmhgfs
+	-$(MKDIR_P) $(DESTDIR)/sbin
 	-$(LN_S) $(DESTDIR)$(sbindir)/mount.vmhgfs \
 		$(DESTDIR)/sbin/mount.vmhgfs &> /dev/null
 uninstall-hook:
diff -ru /usr/src/git/open-vm-tools/open-vm-tools/modules/Makefile.am ./modules/Makefile.am
--- /usr/src/git/open-vm-tools/open-vm-tools/modules/Makefile.am	2008-08-14 22:21:03.000000000 -0700
+++ ./modules/Makefile.am	2008-09-09 01:55:58.000000000 -0700
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@
 export vmsyncdir := $(MODULES_DIR)/drivers/misc
 export vmxnetdir := $(MODULES_DIR)/drivers/net
 export vsockdir := $(MODULES_DIR)/net/vsock
+if WITH_ROOT_PRIVILEGES
 export DEPMOD := depmod -a
+endif WITH_ROOT_PRIVILEGES
 endif LINUX
 
 if FREEBSD
