diff --git a/src/backupninja.in b/src/backupninja.in
index f43eaabd2eb1f2767764025bb6b6053785f24335..7855a6d894791b3dc139a80a9892790d9dd38bfb 100755
--- a/src/backupninja.in
+++ b/src/backupninja.in
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ fi
 [ -f "$logfile" ] || touch $logfile
 
 if [ "$UID" != "0" ]; then
-	echo "$0 can only be run as root"
+	echo "`basename $0` can only be run as root"
 	exit 1
 fi
 
diff --git a/src/ninjahelper.in b/src/ninjahelper.in
index cf24e7bf803f32ad2f12349f0ef9079151f646dc..9ac42a86ec7506db6659def55b9ece141736146d 100755
--- a/src/ninjahelper.in
+++ b/src/ninjahelper.in
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ fi
 
 # am I running as root?
 if [ "$UID" != "0" ]; then
-	msgBox "warning" "$0 must be run by root!"
+	msgBox "warning" "`basename $0` must be run by root!"
 	exit 1
 fi