diff --git a/config.example.toml b/config.example.toml
index bcaa9c7e..2b72d046 100644
--- a/config.example.toml
+++ b/config.example.toml
@@ -81,3 +81,7 @@
 # to upgrade it. Use this only if you installed Topgrade by using a package
 # manager such as Scoop to Cargo
 #self_rename = true
+
+[npm]
+# Use sudo if the NPM directory isn't owned by the current user
+#use_sudo = true
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 452a6983..60d0dc8e 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -147,6 +147,13 @@ pub struct Windows {
     open_remotes_in_new_terminal: Option<bool>,
 }
 
+#[derive(Deserialize, Default, Debug)]
+#[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
+#[allow(clippy::upper_case_acronyms)]
+pub struct NPM {
+    use_sudo: Option<bool>,
+}
+
 #[derive(Deserialize, Default, Debug)]
 #[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
 pub struct Brew {
@@ -204,6 +211,7 @@ pub struct ConfigFile {
     linux: Option<Linux>,
     git: Option<Git>,
     windows: Option<Windows>,
+    npm: Option<NPM>,
     vagrant: Option<Vagrant>,
 }
 
@@ -713,6 +721,15 @@ impl Config {
             .unwrap_or(false)
     }
 
+    #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+    pub fn npm_use_sudo(&self) -> bool {
+        self.config_file
+            .npm
+            .as_ref()
+            .and_then(|npm| npm.use_sudo)
+            .unwrap_or(false)
+    }
+
     #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
     str_value!(linux, emerge_sync_flags);
 
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 28f8cf54..4e7fc989 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ fn run() -> Result<()> {
     runner.execute(Step::Vim, "vim", || vim::upgrade_vim(&base_dirs, &ctx))?;
     runner.execute(Step::Vim, "Neovim", || vim::upgrade_neovim(&base_dirs, &ctx))?;
     runner.execute(Step::Vim, "voom", || vim::run_voom(&base_dirs, run_type))?;
-    runner.execute(Step::Node, "npm", || node::run_npm_upgrade(&base_dirs, run_type))?;
+    runner.execute(Step::Node, "npm", || node::run_npm_upgrade(&ctx))?;
     runner.execute(Step::Node, "yarn", || node::yarn_global_update(run_type))?;
     runner.execute(Step::Deno, "deno", || node::deno_upgrade(&ctx))?;
     runner.execute(Step::Composer, "composer", || generic::run_composer_update(&ctx))?;
diff --git a/src/steps/node.rs b/src/steps/node.rs
index f3b3612b..fe4daaa3 100644
--- a/src/steps/node.rs
+++ b/src/steps/node.rs
@@ -32,15 +32,25 @@ impl NPM {
             .map(|s| PathBuf::from(s.trim()))
     }
 
-    fn upgrade(&self, run_type: RunType) -> Result<()> {
-        run_type.execute(&self.command).args(&["update", "-g"]).check_run()?;
+    fn upgrade(&self, run_type: RunType, use_sudo: bool) -> Result<()> {
+        if use_sudo {
+            run_type
+                .execute("sudo")
+                .arg(&self.command)
+                .args(&["update", "-g"])
+                .check_run()?;
+        } else {
+            run_type.execute(&self.command).args(&["update", "-g"]).check_run()?;
+        }
 
         Ok(())
     }
 }
 
-pub fn run_npm_upgrade(_base_dirs: &BaseDirs, run_type: RunType) -> Result<()> {
+pub fn run_npm_upgrade(ctx: &ExecutionContext) -> Result<()> {
     let npm = require("npm").map(NPM::new)?;
+    #[allow(unused_mut)]
+    let mut use_sudo = false;
 
     #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
     {
@@ -53,17 +63,21 @@ pub fn run_npm_upgrade(_base_dirs: &BaseDirs, run_type: RunType) -> Result<()> {
         let uid = Uid::effective();
 
         if metadata.uid() != uid.as_raw() {
-            return Err(SkipStep(format!(
-                "NPM root at {} is owned by {} which is not the current user",
-                npm_root.display(),
-                metadata.uid()
-            ))
-            .into());
+            if metadata.uid() == 0 && (ctx.config().npm_use_sudo()) {
+                use_sudo = true;
+            } else {
+                return Err(SkipStep(format!(
+                    "NPM root at {} is owned by {} which is not the current user. Set use_sudo = true under the NPM section in your configuration to run NPM as sudo",
+                    npm_root.display(),
+                    metadata.uid()
+                ))
+                    .into());
+            }
         }
     }
 
     print_separator("Node Package Manager");
-    npm.upgrade(run_type)
+    npm.upgrade(ctx.run_type(), use_sudo)
 }
 
 pub fn yarn_global_update(run_type: RunType) -> Result<()> {