diff --git a/pihole b/pihole
index d9a22c63..cae0cfb2 100755
--- a/pihole
+++ b/pihole
@@ -552,8 +552,8 @@ case "${1}" in
   "disable"                     ) ;;
   "-d" | "debug"                ) ;;
   "restartdns"                  ) ;;
-  "-g" | "updateGravity"        ) need_root=0;;
-  "reloaddns"                   ) need_root=0;;
+  "-g" | "updateGravity"        ) ;;
+  "reloaddns"                   ) ;;
   "setpassword"                 ) ;;
   "checkout"                    ) ;;
   "updatechecker"               ) ;;
@@ -562,32 +562,18 @@ case "${1}" in
   *                             ) helpFunc;;
 esac
 
-# Must be root to use this tool for most functions
-if [[ ! $EUID -eq 0 && need_root -eq 1 ]];then
-  if [[ -x "$(command -v sudo)" ]]; then
-    exec sudo bash "$0" "$@"
-    exit $?
-  else
-    echo -e "  ${CROSS} sudo is needed to run pihole commands.  Please run this script as root or install sudo."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-fi
-
 # In the case of alpine running in a container, the USER variable appears to be blank
 # which prevents the next trap from working correctly. Set it by running whoami
 if [[ -z ${USER} ]]; then
   USER=$(whoami)
 fi
 
-# Can also be user pihole for other functions
-if [[ ${USER} != "pihole" && need_root -eq 0 ]];then
-  if [[ -x "$(command -v sudo)" ]]; then
-    exec sudo -u pihole bash "$0" "$@"
-    exit $?
-  else
-    echo -e "  ${CROSS} sudo is needed to run pihole commands.  Please run this script as root or install sudo."
-    exit 1
-  fi
+# Check if the current user is neither root nor pihole and if the command
+# requires root. If so, exit with an error message.
+if [[ $EUID -ne 0 && ${USER} != "pihole" && need_root -eq 1 ]];then
+  echo -e "  ${CROSS} The Pi-hole command requires root privileges, try:"
+  echo -e "      ${COL_GREEN}sudo pihole ${@}${COL_NC}"
+  exit 1
 fi
 
 # Handle redirecting to specific functions based on arguments