diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index dc4b85e3..c071b8a1 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ fn run() -> Result<()> {
     runner.execute(Step::Go, "gup", || go::run_go_gup(run_type))?;
     runner.execute(Step::Emacs, "Emacs", || emacs.upgrade(&ctx))?;
     runner.execute(Step::Opam, "opam", || generic::run_opam_update(&ctx))?;
-    runner.execute(Step::Vcpkg, "vcpkg", || generic::run_vcpkg_update(run_type))?;
+    runner.execute(Step::Vcpkg, "vcpkg", || generic::run_vcpkg_update(&ctx))?;
     runner.execute(Step::Pipx, "pipx", || generic::run_pipx_update(run_type))?;
     runner.execute(Step::Conda, "conda", || generic::run_conda_update(&ctx))?;
     runner.execute(Step::Pip3, "pip3", || generic::run_pip3_update(run_type))?;
diff --git a/src/steps/generic.rs b/src/steps/generic.rs
index cb7c64fd..375702a9 100644
--- a/src/steps/generic.rs
+++ b/src/steps/generic.rs
@@ -260,14 +260,27 @@ pub fn run_opam_update(ctx: &ExecutionContext) -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
-pub fn run_vcpkg_update(run_type: RunType) -> Result<()> {
+pub fn run_vcpkg_update(ctx: &ExecutionContext) -> Result<()> {
     let vcpkg = utils::require("vcpkg")?;
     print_separator("vcpkg");
 
-    run_type
-        .execute(vcpkg)
-        .args(["upgrade", "--no-dry-run"])
-        .status_checked()
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    let is_root_install = !&vcpkg.starts_with("/home");
+
+    #[cfg(not(unix))]
+    let is_root_install = false;
+
+    let mut command = if is_root_install {
+        ctx.run_type().execute(&vcpkg)
+    } else {
+        let mut c = ctx
+            .run_type()
+            .execute(ctx.sudo().as_ref().ok_or(TopgradeError::SudoRequired)?);
+        c.arg(&vcpkg);
+        c
+    };
+
+    command.args(["upgrade", "--no-dry-run"]).status_checked()
 }
 
 pub fn run_pipx_update(run_type: RunType) -> Result<()> {