diff --git a/xCAT-server/sbin/chtab b/xCAT-server/sbin/chtab
index e6a6d0a99..9a2bff905 100755
--- a/xCAT-server/sbin/chtab
+++ b/xCAT-server/sbin/chtab
@@ -63,6 +63,12 @@ unless ($target) {
     exit(1);
 }
 
+my $current_userid = getpwuid($>);
+if ($current_userid ne "root")
+{
+    print "WARNING: chtab bypasses xcatd and does not enforce xCAT policy tables. Consider using tabch instead.\n";
+}
+
 my %keyhash = ();
 my @keypairs = split(/,/, $target);
 if ($keypairs[0] !~ /([^\.\=]+)\.([^\.\=]+)\=(.+)/) {